Critical Review
“The Pursuit of
happyness”
(By: Suprayoga)
A.
Directed by : Gabriele Muccino
B.
Written by :
Steven Conrad
C. Theme : Life Struggle
(a true story)
D. Characters
1. Major
character : Christ Gardner
(Will Smith) is a hard worker, a full of love father.
2. Supporting
Characters : Linda (Thandie Newton) is emotionally unstable.
Christopher (Jaden Christopher Smith) is a
strong motivator.
Jay Wistle (Brian Howe), Martin
Frohm (James Karen), Alan
Frakhes (Dan Castellaneta), Walter Ribbon
(Kurt Fuller), Mrs.
Chu (Takayo Fischer), The hippie girl (Joyful
Raven), etc
E.
Setting
1. Setting of Place : San Fransisco
2. Setting of Time : 1981-1987
F. Point of View : First Person Point of
View. The narrator involves himself in
the story rather than outside. In this movie, Christ Gardner
narrates himself in the story.
G. Symbol :
1. Stars and
stripes (Flag) symbolizes “The United States of America”.
2. Christ
Gardner always run symbolizes “pursuit”.
3. When Christ
follows the internship program in the brokerage firm, one of the firm’s staff
always asks him for help to do something. It symbolizes “discrimination”.
4. Christ
Gardner walks and claps his hands among many people after he is told to be
hired as a broker. It symbolizes “happiness”.
5. Christ
Gardner works at the brokerage firm. It symbolizes “modern life”.
H. Tone : Touching and deep compassion
I. Message : If we have
dreams, we have to keep them and pursue them till
we reach them.
Life is a
struggle.
We must try hard.
We must work
hard.
We should never
surrender.
We should never give
up.
J.
Plot
With
the background of big city, San Fransisco, the film tells the viewers the
struggle of a young smart man, Christ Gardner, to pursuit happyness, something
which Christ believed to exist. The strength of the film is the film seems to
give something unusual, inspiration.
Christ
Gardner, a homeless young man, tried hard to pursue happiness, something that very
few homeless people would go on doing in 1980s. He tried hard to support his
family by conducting a part time job; anyhow he could not fulfill his family
needs. And even his girlfriend, Linda, had to leave him and his son,
Christopher, because she could not stand being fed up with family financial
problem and has to work double shifts. Logically there must be a big question,
how can a mother leave her beloved son who she should care for?
And
Christ has to live with his son, Christopher. He still tried hard to work. He
finally got a job at a prestigious stock firm, Dean Witter Reynolds.
Unfortunately, he got no salary from the factory for six
months. He worked diligently hoping that someday he could get a better job. In
his difficult time, Christ was hired by Dean Witter Reynolds as a broker. The
film is such an inspiring film. By watching the film I believe someone will
have no reason not to try to do his best.
Parts
of the plot
1.
Riding the bus
When Christ was at the bus stop, a man
came and thought Christ had a” time machine”. Christ was a salesman; his duty
was to sell two portable bone-density scanners, one for rent and the other for
day care. He met someone, a stockbroker, in front of a stock office. He was
surprised that everyone seemed happier than he was. He asked whether he could
work at such a firm.
2.
Being Stupid
Being interested in applying for the job
as a stockbroker, Christ came to Dean Witter Reynolds, a prestigious stock
firm. Before entering the office, he had a hippie girl (Joyful Raven) singing
on the pave guard his scanner. The hippie girl stole Christ’s scanner and escaped
into underground railway station. Christ tried to chase her, but it was late.
3.
Running
Christ chased the hippie girl who would
go on a bus. He succeeded to take his stolen scanner from the hippie girl, but
he failed to sell them that day. Linda had to leave him and his son,
Christopher, because she could not stand being fed up with family financial
problem and has to work double shifts. The landlord asked Christ to leave the
rent-house.
4.
Internship
Because of
failing to pay parking ticket, Christ was arrested by the police. Meanwhile he
had to attend an interview in Dean Witter Reynolds. Wearing bum clothes and
being supported by a paint-smeared face, Christ attended the interview. After
attending an interview, Christ worked as apprentice worker for six months at a
stock firm, Dean Witter Reynolds. He worked hard to be hired as a broker.
5. Paying taxes
Christ got a
letter telling him to pay taxes. He was broke; he got only $31 and 33 cent. He
asked Wayne (Mark Christopher Lawrence) for his money, but Wayne did not give
any. Christ then sold a scanner, he got $280.
6. Happiness
In his difficult
time, Christ was hired as a broker at Dean Witter Reynolds.
In 2006 Christ
sold his minority stake in his brokerage firm multimillion dollar deal.