Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump

What are your expectations of the film?

I have heard of this film but have never seen it, I expect it to be a comedy because Tom Hanks plays the main character of the film and he seems to be in a lot of comedy films. I also presume there will be an element of romance because there is a focus on a girl on the back cover. I think this film has an original concept because I don’t know what plot to expect.

Narrative turning points – at what points does the plot change?

I think the plot changes when Bubba, (Forrest’s best friend in Vietnam) is shot because the tone of the film changes, as an audience it’s the first time we see Forrest deal with a traumatic, emotional situation and how he combats this loss. Before his death, Bubba asks Forrest to be his first mate in the shrimping business and split the profits. Forrest speaks to Bubba’s grave, promising to buy a shrimping boat and names his business ‘Bubba Gump Shrimp Company’ which is very successful and gives a share of the profits to Mrs Blue. Forrest is admirable because he makes a big positive out of a huge negative and fulfils Bubba’s dreams and supports his family. As a result of the successful business Forrest becomes very rich which is a big turning point, however, this doesn’t change Forrest being down to earth and affable. He continues to cut the football field grass for free because he wanted to be helpful and he enjoyed the work, ‘Since I was a gazillionaire, I liked doin’ it so much, I cut the grass for free’ which shows he hasn’t lost touch with reality and he’s still humble.

Memorable moments – what moments in the film stood out for you?

A significant moment was when Forrest is pushed on stage by hippies and told to make a speech against the Vietnam war and for world peace in front of a huge crowd of people. As the climax builds and Forrest is about to speak a police officer pulls out the mic wire and cuts the volume. Forrest continues to speak anyway, and although none of the crowd can hear him, they applaud and cheer him on. The only part of the speech we hear is Forrest finishing with ‘That all I got to say about that’ which is subtle and shows the film doesn’t try to push any political message. Jenny emerges from the crowd and Forrest’s face lights up, and the scene is drawn to a conclusion as Jenny re-enters Forrest life, as prior to that we are made to think Jenny isn’t interested, returning all his letters. This is heart-warming as at this point we know Forrest’s only love is for Jenny and we start to learn more about Jenny’s life as an activist with her new boyfriend.

Emotional response – what was your emotional response to the film? Did your emotions change?

I think this film is very moving, from Mrs Gump’s death to Jenny’s. Forrest is presented as having a very close relationship with his mother, even in the beginning of the film Mrs Gump does not reject Forrest for his disability or unintelligence and loves her only son unconditionally, telling him he shouldn’t be treated differently to anyone else, which ultimately helps him to be successful in life. It is Mrs Gump who tells Forrest ‘death is a part of life’ which helps him cope with not only her death but Jenny’s too. After his mother’s death, Forrest goes on a run and keeps running for 420 days which gives him lots of publicity, but the only reason he keeps running is a method to deal with his grief and because he enjoyed it. I think what helps him recover from Jenny’s death is their son, a very touching moment is when Forrest speaks to Jenny’s grave. Forrest’s son hands a letter to his father, asking him to lay it on Jenny’s grave. Forrest never opens the letter because only Jenny is meant to read it, even though she will never be able to. Forrest also has Jenny’s old house demolished as he knew how unhappy and disgusted it made her feel.

   

Did you feel empathy/sympathy for any of the characters? Which were your favourites?

I feel sympathy for Jenny because we learn she was molested and abused as a child, which ultimately led her down a path of self-destruction. As a child we see her as sweet and caring towards Forrest and as she gradually starts growing up we see her make poor decisions one after another. As we see Forrest flourish we watch Jenny diminish is contrast. She ponders suicide a few times but always seems to come back into Forrest’s life. She wants Forrest to meet their son, and whilst she could’ve done this with good intentions to marry Forrest and start a family with him, it is questionable whether she already knew her diagnosis and knew she was going to die, needing Forrest to look after and bring up her son and financially support him.