The Theme of Perseverance in Forrest Gump

On July 6 of 1994, the two hour and twenty-two-minute film, Forrest Gump, hit movie theater screens. The movie was adapted from a book Forrest Gump written by Winston Groom in 1986. The movie was directed by Robert Zemeckis, who also was the director of The Polar Express. The movie grossed more than 660 million dollars! There were so many different storylines throughout the movie that allowed almost anyone to connect with the characters. We could say the genre is a romantic drama, but it also has scenes of action and even a little comedy. This movie won six Academy awards to include: Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. If that does not define a hit movie, then what does? Tom Hanks played the main character, Forrest Gump. He was amazing in this role because he stood up for himself and made a way for success in his life. Hanks has a lot of acting experience. He has acted in 76 movies, a popular one being the Disney movie Saving Mr. Banks. Sally Fields played the role of Ms. Gump. She has also starred in numerous movies, one being Mrs. Doubtfire where she also played the role of the mother. Jenny, who was Forrest's childhood love, was played by Robin Wright who has also acted in many movies but an all-time favorite, Wonder Women. Forrest Gump is the story of a special man who sits on a bench at a bus stop in Savannah, Georgia as he tells his life story. As a child, he was at a disadvantage having braces on his legs and a low IQ, but that never stopped him from leading a full life. He attended college at the University of Alabama to play football, signed into the Army and fought in the Vietnam War, saved the life of Lieutenant Dan, became a ping pong champion, ran across the nation, and was a successful businessman establishing a shrimp boat business named Bubba Gump. Throughout his whole life, he managed to always keep his sweet childhood love, Jenny, in his mind. Forrest was a nice dressed fella. His mama told him you could always tell a lot about a person by their shoes. Forrest had many different shoes throughout his life. Beginning as a child he had shoes with braces. Forrest broke out of these braces when he was being bullied and Jenny yelled Run, Forrest, Run! as he was being chased. Then as Forrest grew up, he experienced football cleats and combat boots from war. Jenny added to his collection, buying Forrest a pair of Nike running shoes, which were used to run across the nation. Forrest went on to play football in college and later enter into the war. He was not intentionally supposed to play football, but the speed he had made him an unintentional athlete. Gump was also an unintended hero in the Vietnam war, as he saved Lieutenant Dan and tried to save his best friend, Bubba, along with other survivors. The sound effects and music choice were very impactful in this movie. When Jenny returned home to Forrest in Alabama, they dance to the song Sweet Home Alabama. Another song is Fortunate Son which was played when Forrest went to the Vietnam War. This song has references to those who serve and represent the flag and the colors red, white, and blue. The theme revealed in Forrest Gump was perseverance. My mama says you gotta put the past behind you before you can move on. Forrest never looked back, viewed life positively and dealt with whatever came his way. This Academy-Award Drama has a message for everyone Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get. Keep living!

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