Probably one of the best movies of all time for its sheer simplicity! I am talking about one of my favorite movies: Forrest Gump. Whats most likeable about this flick is that it has something in it to attract theatregoers of all ages, backgrounds and outlooks. The reason is simple: Its a satire on human life. Its a cariacature of the manner in which we live, the way homo sapiens think, our mangled priorities, our prejudices and ideals and most of all, human naivette.
The movie laughs at human society and Forrest is the lead joker. Throughout the movie, he does what he is told; if forced to react, he acts on instinct. He is correctly portrayed as a retard, who in spite of being successful, is forced to live with being treated as a simpleton. His character reminds me of the Vidushak (joker) in street plays in India. The role of the Vidushak is one of joining threads together. He appears in interludes and connects storylines in the play. He is used as a message bearer cum compere and serves the aim of street plays in India: to spread a message among the rural public. Street plays deal with current topics. They seek to instigate a point of view among the public; they disseminate information among people unreachable by the mass media and by inference, also criticize current issues and keep them fresh in the social consciousness. The most common way to generate awareness on a particual issue is to proclaim it loudly and use every ounce of wit and sarcasm to present your point. This responsibility usually falls on the Vidushak. He is both, most loved and most irritating. The similarities with Forrest Gump are too strong to ignore. By simply following instructions, Forrest caricatures the seriousness in the person issuing instructions.
The movie, in particular Forrest, exposes the confines that apply to every aspect of human thinking. By merely listening to his hippie girlfriend, he reveals the shallowness and utter lack of meaning in her existence. By acting on human instinct and saving lives in battle, he quashes the myth of wartime glory. By pulling a reluctant Gary Sinise from certain death on the battlefield, he exposes the futility of sacrifice. Its not as explicit as I am writing it but the effect is the same. The next time someone talks about glory in dying in battle, you will be irrevokably reminded of Gary Sinise's tantrum on the battlefield and later in the hospital (destiny et. al. !!). Tell me, won't it feel comical?
Furthermore, the movie tries to answer an unanswerable question: "Why do we do anything at all ?". Remember the scene when Forrest is asked: "Why are you running ?", he says, "I just felt like running". Then the movie shows a guy who claims to know that "Forrest Knows"! That is the most hilarous scene in the movie. In fact, the whole Running event is uplifting to watch. It brings out the beauty as well as the tragedy of human existence. Humans need to keep doing something. They just cannot sit tight. If they try to stay put, the mind never does!. Inevitably, the mind is forced to think up reasons for the body to keep doing something; well, you see, another thing humans can never do without is justification for our actions!
"We just cannot accept the fact that there is no fundamental WHY question to our existence"
This is what is cleverly exposed by one of my favorite movies of all time: Forrest Gump.
The movie laughs at human society and Forrest is the lead joker. Throughout the movie, he does what he is told; if forced to react, he acts on instinct. He is correctly portrayed as a retard, who in spite of being successful, is forced to live with being treated as a simpleton. His character reminds me of the Vidushak (joker) in street plays in India. The role of the Vidushak is one of joining threads together. He appears in interludes and connects storylines in the play. He is used as a message bearer cum compere and serves the aim of street plays in India: to spread a message among the rural public. Street plays deal with current topics. They seek to instigate a point of view among the public; they disseminate information among people unreachable by the mass media and by inference, also criticize current issues and keep them fresh in the social consciousness. The most common way to generate awareness on a particual issue is to proclaim it loudly and use every ounce of wit and sarcasm to present your point. This responsibility usually falls on the Vidushak. He is both, most loved and most irritating. The similarities with Forrest Gump are too strong to ignore. By simply following instructions, Forrest caricatures the seriousness in the person issuing instructions.
The movie, in particular Forrest, exposes the confines that apply to every aspect of human thinking. By merely listening to his hippie girlfriend, he reveals the shallowness and utter lack of meaning in her existence. By acting on human instinct and saving lives in battle, he quashes the myth of wartime glory. By pulling a reluctant Gary Sinise from certain death on the battlefield, he exposes the futility of sacrifice. Its not as explicit as I am writing it but the effect is the same. The next time someone talks about glory in dying in battle, you will be irrevokably reminded of Gary Sinise's tantrum on the battlefield and later in the hospital (destiny et. al. !!). Tell me, won't it feel comical?
Furthermore, the movie tries to answer an unanswerable question: "Why do we do anything at all ?". Remember the scene when Forrest is asked: "Why are you running ?", he says, "I just felt like running". Then the movie shows a guy who claims to know that "Forrest Knows"! That is the most hilarous scene in the movie. In fact, the whole Running event is uplifting to watch. It brings out the beauty as well as the tragedy of human existence. Humans need to keep doing something. They just cannot sit tight. If they try to stay put, the mind never does!. Inevitably, the mind is forced to think up reasons for the body to keep doing something; well, you see, another thing humans can never do without is justification for our actions!
"We just cannot accept the fact that there is no fundamental WHY question to our existence"
This is what is cleverly exposed by one of my favorite movies of all time: Forrest Gump.
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