也谈电影 《 Forrest Gump 》

Good writing! Have to agree with you but a couple of things might deserve an in-depth discussion.

The mom, one of the iconic images in the American film history portrayed by Sally Field, has a direct influence on Forrest Gump’s character. What Forrest is is what his mom wanted him to be. No doubt the mom deserves recognition of many good virtues as you cited; but I am not sure "dignity" is one of them to properly describe her. Remember the scene that she has to bend herself when the school principle suggested a sex deal, in return to give Forrest a green-light to go to private school? What a sacrifice the mom made for her son!!! By doing do, the mom is as virtuous as she can be, but I am not so sure “dignity" can fit here.

The love story between Forrest and Jenny is, in a way, an epitome of broader societal background back to 60’s~70's when the sex liberation was emerging and later on becoming a dominant cultural movement. People just let go of their self-consciousness and fall in love whoever they like and whenever is convenient, because mono-love was no longer fulfilling. In a way, Jenny in the movie is portrayed that way as a hippie type historically attached to the movement. Even though she keeps coming back to her very first, naive and nostalgia lover, Forrest; yet she never got emotionally satisfied by being with Forrest, unfortunately. What connects her and Forrest on the spiritual level is just that lingering, nebulous, dreamy childhood love….. that in the end hopelessly becomes victimized by the prevailing social ethos of sex liberation.

All in all, the movie is an advocate of traditional value embodied by Forrest and others, an old fashioned American spirit, so to speak; along that line, the movie examines love, friendship and family. Those sideline stories are well-crafted between Forrest and Lt. Dan & “Bubba” for friendship; Forrest and Jenny for love; Forrest and his mom for family relationship. As a dramedy, a new genre combining Drama & Comedy, Forrest Gump makes people laugh with tears. Watching the movie over and over, it reinforces me that nobody but Tom Hanks could pull this off; of course other cast did excellent job as well, especially Gary Sinise who won the Oscar for the role of Lt. Dan.

Thanks for the sharing!

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This was a follow-up reply corresponding to Melly's post, A Simple Man