Last night Riley and I watched "Finding Forrester" on TV. I had never seen it before, but Riley said it was familiar to him.
''Finding Forrester" is PG-13 and lasts 2 hours and 16 minutes. There is some language in the movie, but it is normal for street scenes.
There were many life lesson nuggets in the movie and I enjoyed it. The film came out in 2000, stars Sean Connery and Rob Brown, is filmed in NYC, the Bronx, and is about a high school student and a recluse one-book author.
Here are some of the things that struck me in the movie:
The theme of fear and how it controls people by keeping them from moving forward in life, whether that it a fear of failure or a fear of success, or a combination of both. Fear of getting out into the unknown is paralyzing to many. Fear of facing oneself causes some to treat others disrespectfully and with disdain (teacher at prep school).
The theme of friendship and how that overcome fear in the long run was a good reminder that relationships are what break down stereotypes, barriers, fears, and ignorance. When we get to know others and enter into relationships, we learn about their lives and they learn about us. When that happens, change happens.
The theme of writing was threaded throughout the movie, but it wasn't a movie about writing. There were some good nuggets about writing, however. There was the admonition to sit at the typewriter and write the first draft. To just write it. Not to think about it, but to write what flowed. The first draft came from the heart and then the second draft was to be from the mind. Good words.
It was refreshing to see and hear a typewriter-- to see the paper go in and be pulled out, with the zipping noise. To hear the deep clicking of the keys, and the whirring sound of the return chamber after the "ding".
The basketball scenes were pretty fun, the street game and the high school team ones. Watching the interaction between the personalities made you feel that you were in that world, observing it first hand.
There were painful moments of society not treating the student with respect or dignity. There were scenes that reminded you that we still have racial inequality and that saddens me.
But there were scenes that encouraged me and gave me hope too. When classmates took up for each other, regardless of background and when the friendship between author and student showed fruit in several ways. I was reminded that it is worth investing in relationships when we are led to do so.
As a retired teacher, I was reminded on how not to teach or lead. It is easy for us in our pain and brokenness to take things out on others, in order to have a sense of control. Yet by letting go, by not holding on to bitterness or pain, by showing respect, etc, we can make much more of a difference in someone's life. The teacher had a reputation, but it wasn't for being a teacher that students admired or sought to learn from. They knew if he was challenged, he would find a way to destroy them. Because of his own fears and insecurities, he couldn't see to bring out the best in his students. We all have to work through bitterness, pain, hurt, and difficult things. As we do, we can find healing and wholeness. When we live out of the place of healing rather than hurt, we are all better for it.
Even though this movie came out 18 years ago, I'm glad I finally got to see it.
There are probably more themes that spoke to me last night (about life and relationship), but as I reflect on the movie today, these are the things that stand out.
The acting was good and the scenery of NY was like being there again.
If you'd like to check out some reviews on the movie, here are a few links and clips below!
IMDB
Rotten Tomatoes
Movie Review by Roger Ebert
Movie Trailer and a few clips from the movie:
There are other clips on YouTube if you'd like to search for them. Better yet, just look up the movie and check it out. It might speak differently to you-- or not at all, but maybe, just maybe, you'll find something worth while in it too.
Blessings on your journey,
Debra
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