I watched Forrest Gump last week, for the first time. It was part of a film appreciation project. Let me be honest had it not been an assignment I wouldn't have watched it. I have something against movies that portray the lives of below average children. No offense, but it leaves me feeling depressed so it kind of beats the point of watching a film according to me. I did watch it however and I'm glad I did.
Like most other students the day I started the project the first thing I did was googledForrest Gump ! IMDB the world's largest movie data base described Forrest Gump as a movie that encapsulates the journey of a boy with a below average IQ from his childhood to the time he joins college, the American army, gets married and has a baby boy. It adds that the film is in the backdrop of American popular history.
25 minutes into the film I was convinced the film was not just aboutForrest Gump . The film according to me is about American history, politics and society. The film only has Forrest Gump 's story as a medium to get the above three aspects to light.
The director of the film not only includes instances right from American history and society but also leaves comments on the same.
The film opens with a white feather floating around the air, the wind making it travel and land here and there. Until it finally lands at Forrest Gump's feet. The director signifies through the white feather his ideology of destiny and hope. The director attempts to point that destiny is much like that white feather. It finds us at any time, any place; it is upto us to take that destiny and make the best of it. Through Forrest Gump's reaction of picking up the feather and putting it safely in his suitcase the director runs home the message; hold your destiny and use it well. Interestingly the director also uses the same feather in the final scene; the feather floats away from Forrest Gump. An attempt to point that Forrest's destiny will take him several more places.
A couple of minutes into the film the director shows us one of the most influential moments in American history, politics and society. The desegregation of American schools. This was a time when in America whites and blacks were not allowed to study in the same schools. Blacks integration into white schools is shown by the director. Here the director uses realism as a technique to portray the same.
The director moves to point out another extremely impactful moment in American history - the Vietnam war. Forrest Gump has joined the American efforts at Vietnam. The director manages to point to the audience that there was absolutely no threat to America by a country as small as Vietnam. This is done effectively through scenes where American army men in Vietnam are shown looking for something, yet there is no threat to be found. Forrest's dialouge.."Even we didn't know what we were looking for", carries across the message clearly.
The director makes one of the most open depictions of the American governments attitude towards the situation post the Vietnam war through a scene in the film. There is depiction of the wide spread protests being carried out in America while the war was on. There are cries of peace, one nation, rock and roll music, calls for no war by prominent protesters like John Lennon, etc. The director effectively portrays American popular culture of the time through these protests. Interestingly while one such protest is on outside the White House, Forrest Gump dressed in his commander uniform gets pulled into the protest. He is asked by one of the leaders of the protest to tell the crowd;"what is American war in Vietnam really is". What follows next is in my opinion one of the most clear indications of the American governments attitude post the Vietnam war. While Forrest moves towards the mike to narrate his idea of the war, there is an American government agent, employed to maintain peace at the protest. The agent pulls the plug out of the speakers. The entire speech given by Forrest is left muted to the audience..both us viewers and the crowd gathered. Much like the situation in America post the war. The American government had not permitted war heroes and army men to come back to America and address media or common public. The truth or rather the lies about of American war in Vietnam were not allowed to be spoken of. The power the American government exercised in keeping soldiers and army men silent on the war is seen effectively through this scene.
The director also carries in the film another important episode from American history- that of America's peace keeping initiative with China.
There is also the most scandalous issue in American history and politics of the time- the Watergate scandal. The director uses extensive realism even here. He also showcases the following resignation of President Nixon.
Other than this there is portrayal of American society very effectively. Other than in the earlier scenes at the protest march the director portrays American popular culture through the love of Forrest's life- Jenny. Jenny is representative of drug abuse, rock and roll influence and suicidal tendencies in the film. In a scene at new year's the director shows Jenny's confusion and fear both through her extensive use of cocaine, heroin and an attempted suicide.
The film climaxes with Jenny and Forrest uniting and having a baby boy of their own.
In my opinion the director intentionally portrays an antithesis by way of Forrest and Jenny. Forrest represents everything from the governments side, the Vietnam war, the government efforts, ideas, etc, while Jenny represents American popular culture, rock and roll influence, etc. Through a final reconciliation between the two by way of the marriage the director points that even in American society the two situations; popular culture and the government's varied ideologies co exist. Interesting in the end Jenny (representation of popular culture) dies of an incurable illness. The directors comment I assume on the fact that in the wake of extreme power and control of the American government, the popular American dream and popular American culture will be left crippled.
The directors extensive use of realism and special effects is a serious bonus in the film.
Realism is a technique that is used in film making, where there is limited concentration of camera angle, techniques and editing. Rather the director concentrates on using actual locations, real characters and lights to bring home messages. The director uses realism widely throughout the film. At every mention of American history the director has used actual news clippings in his story telling to bring in the realism element. Quite effectively so.
Finally this is not a review of the film, but an analysis on why I feel the film is not about Forrest Gump but about American politics and society. The film need not be watched for the story of the below average boy that becomes a millionaire, watch it rather for the open, honest and unbiased depiction of modern American history, politics and society.
Like most other students the day I started the project the first thing I did was googled
25 minutes into the film I was convinced the film was not just about
The director of the film not only includes instances right from American history and society but also leaves comments on the same.
The film opens with a white feather floating around the air, the wind making it travel and land here and there. Until it finally lands at Forrest Gump's feet. The director signifies through the white feather his ideology of destiny and hope. The director attempts to point that destiny is much like that white feather. It finds us at any time, any place; it is upto us to take that destiny and make the best of it. Through Forrest Gump's reaction of picking up the feather and putting it safely in his suitcase the director runs home the message; hold your destiny and use it well. Interestingly the director also uses the same feather in the final scene; the feather floats away from Forrest Gump. An attempt to point that Forrest's destiny will take him several more places.
A couple of minutes into the film the director shows us one of the most influential moments in American history, politics and society. The desegregation of American schools. This was a time when in America whites and blacks were not allowed to study in the same schools. Blacks integration into white schools is shown by the director. Here the director uses realism as a technique to portray the same.
The director moves to point out another extremely impactful moment in American history - the Vietnam war. Forrest Gump has joined the American efforts at Vietnam. The director manages to point to the audience that there was absolutely no threat to America by a country as small as Vietnam. This is done effectively through scenes where American army men in Vietnam are shown looking for something, yet there is no threat to be found. Forrest's dialouge.."Even we didn't know what we were looking for", carries across the message clearly.
The director makes one of the most open depictions of the American governments attitude towards the situation post the Vietnam war through a scene in the film. There is depiction of the wide spread protests being carried out in America while the war was on. There are cries of peace, one nation, rock and roll music, calls for no war by prominent protesters like John Lennon, etc. The director effectively portrays American popular culture of the time through these protests. Interestingly while one such protest is on outside the White House, Forrest Gump dressed in his commander uniform gets pulled into the protest. He is asked by one of the leaders of the protest to tell the crowd;"what is American war in Vietnam really is". What follows next is in my opinion one of the most clear indications of the American governments attitude post the Vietnam war. While Forrest moves towards the mike to narrate his idea of the war, there is an American government agent, employed to maintain peace at the protest. The agent pulls the plug out of the speakers. The entire speech given by Forrest is left muted to the audience..both us viewers and the crowd gathered. Much like the situation in America post the war. The American government had not permitted war heroes and army men to come back to America and address media or common public. The truth or rather the lies about of American war in Vietnam were not allowed to be spoken of. The power the American government exercised in keeping soldiers and army men silent on the war is seen effectively through this scene.
The director also carries in the film another important episode from American history- that of America's peace keeping initiative with China.
There is also the most scandalous issue in American history and politics of the time- the Watergate scandal. The director uses extensive realism even here. He also showcases the following resignation of President Nixon.
Other than this there is portrayal of American society very effectively. Other than in the earlier scenes at the protest march the director portrays American popular culture through the love of Forrest's life- Jenny. Jenny is representative of drug abuse, rock and roll influence and suicidal tendencies in the film. In a scene at new year's the director shows Jenny's confusion and fear both through her extensive use of cocaine, heroin and an attempted suicide.
The film climaxes with Jenny and Forrest uniting and having a baby boy of their own.
In my opinion the director intentionally portrays an antithesis by way of Forrest and Jenny. Forrest represents everything from the governments side, the Vietnam war, the government efforts, ideas, etc, while Jenny represents American popular culture, rock and roll influence, etc. Through a final reconciliation between the two by way of the marriage the director points that even in American society the two situations; popular culture and the government's varied ideologies co exist. Interesting in the end Jenny (representation of popular culture) dies of an incurable illness. The directors comment I assume on the fact that in the wake of extreme power and control of the American government, the popular American dream and popular American culture will be left crippled.
The directors extensive use of realism and special effects is a serious bonus in the film.
Realism is a technique that is used in film making, where there is limited concentration of camera angle, techniques and editing. Rather the director concentrates on using actual locations, real characters and lights to bring home messages. The director uses realism widely throughout the film. At every mention of American history the director has used actual news clippings in his story telling to bring in the realism element. Quite effectively so.
Finally this is not a review of the film, but an analysis on why I feel the film is not about Forrest Gump but about American politics and society. The film need not be watched for the story of the below average boy that becomes a millionaire, watch it rather for the open, honest and unbiased depiction of modern American history, politics and society.
