Introduction: Empathy and the Power of Storytelling
Empathy is my favorite part of being a storyteller. Every day I get to help people connect on a deeper level. Empathy helps bridge misunderstandings and opens our hearts and minds to people who are different from us. That’s really important.
Forrest Gump takes a social outsider character and makes us fall in love with him. We can relate to his feelings and experiences, even though most of us will never experience his struggles firsthand. How do we develop this connection? The movie portrays Forrest Gump as a person just like us. He wants the same things as we do and is trying to overcome some of the same obstacles as we do. The movie also opens our eyes to an unfamiliar world and to the struggles that Forrest Gump goes through that we cannot relate to, thus broadening our perspective on this man’s life and experiences. By showing us that Forrest Gump is just like us, we gain empathy. By showing us his unique struggles, we also gain empathy.
And (hopefully) after watching this film, our lives will be impacted to become more understanding and accepting of people like Forrest Gump, and people who are different from us.
Development: Broad genres, historical depth, and character empathy
Another reason why Forrest Gump is the best movie of all time is that it reaches such a wide range of audiences. No matter what genre you like, this movie probably incorporates your favorite genre. (Except science fiction, of course, but there are some very cool visual effects in Forrest Gump.) Forrest Gump combines romance, drama, humor, adventure, war, sports, history, entrepreneurship, and politics. It really covers all genres.
For the sake of brevity, I will focus on the one factor that I think makes this film stand out: history.
I’m a little biased because I love history, but bear with me. I have to take my time to appreciate it. This movie is a clever combination of micro and macro stories, using history as the main line and narrative device to drive the plot forward. The micro story focuses on the individual, while the macro story focuses on the macro narrative.
Forrest Gump uses history to jump between micro and macro narratives, running through the film’s timeline, political climate, and American culture, giving us a timeline background throughout the film. While Forrest Gump is telling his story, he also talks about his relationship with some well-known historical figures or events. He mentions the assassination of Kennedy, the integration of black students into southern universities, the Vietnam War, Chinese communism, and more. Oh, and he also taught Elvis to dance, wrote the lyrics for John Lennon’s song “Imagine”, accidentally exposed the Watergate scandal, and was an early investor in “a certain fruit company” (Apple).
Throughout the film, we learn how Forrest has influenced American history and culture. We also get a wonderful visual tour of America during Forrest’s three years on the run. Wow, all this talk about Forrest makes me want to watch this movie again. Like right now.
Climax: Character Growth and Emotional Depth
Jenny Curran
From the moment Jenny first meets Forrest on the school bus, we are drawn in. She notices that Forrest is different and asks if he is “silly,” but soon accepts him as her best friend. Jenny sneaks into Forrest’s house because she is scared – but he doesn’t know why. We discover that her father has been abusing her. She moves from home to home, always longing to be somewhere new. She asks Forrest to pray with her, asking God to turn her into a bird and “fly away from here, far away.”
She has always considered Forrest a friend, but she hasn’t always appreciated his dedication to her. After all, he’s the only man in her life who treats her with respect, and she doesn’t know how to deal with that. We can speculate that the diagnosis prompted her to return to Forrest (she told him she was “sick,” but the audience could be misled into thinking she had HIV/AIDS). Looking back, she wishes she could have experienced Forrest’s adventures with him. She has regrets, but she makes the most of the time she has left.
Lieutenant Dan
Oh my goodness, Lieutenant Dan. Where to begin? He’s introduced to us as the no-nonsense leader of Forrest and Bubba’s unit in Vietnam. He’s brave and smart, but he’s eager to fight for America – just like generations of his family have.
After years of wishing his life would end in battle, Lieutenant Dan eventually becomes Forrest’s first mate on a shrimp boat and finds peace “with God.” He finds joy again, finds love, and even finds new, miraculous legs.
Forrest Gump
A golden tear-jerking moment is Forrest’s monologue at Jenny’s grave. He opens up about his confusion about life and death. He says he doesn’t know who’s right – Mom (“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get”) or Lieutenant Dan (“Everyone has their own destiny”). Forrest concludes: “Maybe it’s both. Maybe it’s both at the same time.” This is one of the few times we see Forrest introspect like anyone else, pondering life’s big questions.
Then he went on nonchalantly about how he directly cared for their son—making him breakfast, lunch, dinner, combing his hair, etc. He began to cry when he thought about how smart little Forrest was.
That last monologue is full of truth bombs but also simple everyday moments that make you relate to him. I mean, he laid out his son’s letter to Jenny (with “Mom” written on it in the cutest handwriting) on her grave without even reading it. Little Forrest tells him he shouldn’t read it, so he doesn’t. I mean, how cute is that! What a simple way to express his love, respect, and care for his son. Couldn’t stop crying.
Ending: Sincerity, Innocence, Hope and Echo
Remember Forrest Gump’s famous line: “My mom always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.'” This wise quote perfectly captures the essence of this film – life is full of surprises, both sweet and bittersweet. As Forrest Gump goes about his adventures, we witness his innocent, often unintentional, impact on the world around him.
Forrest Gump is more than just a movie; it’s an emotional roller coaster ride that will make you laugh, cry, and feel every inch of your heart. The movie takes us on Forrest Gump’s extraordinary journey, with Tom Hanks delivering a breathtaking performance. From humble beginnings in Alabama to becoming a football star, war hero, and successful businessman – Forrest Gump’s life was anything but ordinary.
Forrest (and the other characters) eventually find new hope. Even in the darkest moments, we can always find hope to help us get through it. Lieutenant Dan eventually finds love and new legs. Jenny finds love and acceptance. Forrest is able to raise baby Forrest.