A rare opportunity to see this classic film on the big screen unveils the life lessons contained within.
While attending the 1st annual GI Film Festival over Memorial Day Weekend, I had the rare opportunity to see "Forrest Gump" on a big screen for the first time in about 13 years. Though this film is in my personal collection, there's something indescribably special about seeing it in a theater.
Based on the novel by Winston Groom, this contemporary classic contains plenty of lessons about life and love, all delivered by a man that many call "stupid" during the course of the film:
Lesson #1: Know What Love Is
Riding the school bus on his first day of school, young Forrest meets Jenny Curran (played as an adult by Robin Wright Penn), a pretty little girl who becomes his first and truest love. Though he's slower than the other children, Forrest and Jenny spend lots of time together, especially since she has problems at home. Time and circumstances keep them apart, sometimes for years at a stretch, but nothing, not even a tour of duty in Vietnam, could stop Forrest (Tom Hanks) from loving his Jenny.
Lesson #2: Keep Your Promises
Forrest tends to meet the most significant people in his life on buses and the one taking him to boot camp was no exception. He took a seat next to Buford "Bubba" Blue (Mykelti Williamson), an inductee who knew everything and anything about the shrimping business.
Forrest promised Bubba that he would go into the business with him when they left Vietnam and split the profits 50/50. During a Viet Cong attack, Forrest went back to retrieve his injured friend from the jungle, but Bubba died on the way to the hospital.
When Forrest finally made his way back to the United States, he took all his money and bought a shrimp boat. After his shrimping business took off, he gave Bubba's mother his share of the profits, ensuring that she never had to work for anyone ever again. Forrest's friend Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) told him he was crazy for sharing the money with Bubba's mom, but for Forrest, a promise always was a promise.
Lesson #3: Do What You Want To Do in Life
After Jenny disappeared one night, Forrest got up the next morning, started running and kept on going for more than 3 years. He crisscrossed the country, stopping to sleep when he was tired and pausing for a meal when hungry. People couldn't believe that he simply ran because he wanted to run and kept trying to uncover the real reasons behind his personal marathon.
Lesson #4: Be a Great Parent
Upon learning that he was the father of Jenny's son (Haley Joel Osment), Forrest accepted him immediately and invited Jenny, who was critically ill, and their little boy to come live with him. After Jenny passed away, Forrest took care of his son, reading with him every night and preparing his lunch for school. Like his mother before him, Forrest would do anything to make a good home for his child.
Forrest's life truly was like a box of chocolates, but he, more so than most people, was more prepared to deal with the things that came his way.
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