Life Challenges and Lessons in The Movie 'The Pursuit of Happyness'

The Pursuit of Happyness is a biographical movie that is based on Chris Gardner ‘s life in his dark time. This story tells about when he is a homeless and a single parent. The film was published in December 15th 2006 under Columbia Pictures associating with Relativity Media. The movie was directed by an Italian film director, Gabriele Muccino. The film was produced by Devon Franklin, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, James Lassiter, Steve Tisch, and also the main actor in this movie Will Smith. Will Smith, one of the producers, also plays as Chris Gardner. In this film, Jaden Smith made his first debut as the Gardner ‘s son named Christoper. This film is also featuring Thandy Newton, Brian Howe, James Karen, Dan Castellaneta, and Kurt Fuller. The screenplay is written by Steven Conrad and based on Chris Gardner ‘s book with the same title. It is adapted into a narrational autobiography film.

The Pursuit of Happyness covers the story of the darkest time is Chris Gardner ‘s life of being a homeless and a single parent. The story begins with the scenery of busy crowds in San Francisco in 1981. Gardner ‘s narration begins with introduction of himself and a part of story of his life. In that story, Chris Gardner is a salesman of bone-dense scanner machines. He believes, selling those machines will bring fortunes to his family. However, since he could not sell the leftover machines, he has a bitter life which his wife acts cold toward him. It is because he could not fulfill the family financial needs. Being in the financial instability, Gardner ‘s wife leaves to another town to find a better job. That is the beginning of his single-parent days. He always tries to be strong as he has one and only dearest person to him, his son Christoper. After his wife left him, he is accepted in Dean Witter Reynolds internship program without any salary. He has to survive in the six months internship program to become the best and to get the job at Dean Witter Reynold. Gardner is kicked out from his apartment as he could not pay the rent, making him as a homeless. Being a homeless is the darkest time of his life, but he tries not to show his sadness in front of his son. In his busy day as an intern, he never forgets his role as a father and his priority to sell the leftover machines so they could survive days.

The Pursuit of Happyness has showed that one ‘s determination and hard work could help one to overcome problems in life. This is showed by Gardner who never gives up selling machines from one hospital to others. Being bankrupt and homeless never make him lose hope in life, even though he nearly to lose that hope.

This film tells conflicts in the poverty and financial instability that are still happen in society nowadays. However, the problems could be solved by determination and motivation. Determination could help one to overcome with the darkest time in life. Gardner ‘s motivation is his son. It is showed when he wants his children to know who his father was. To make the dreams come true, a hard work also plays a significant role in determining one’s future. Gardner ‘s determination and his motivation could make audiences who are depressed to life, especially to financial problem. The movie teaches that financial problem could be solved with a big determination even though obstacles could lie in every effort. The movie also teaches that the biggest motivation and dream in life could be one ‘s purpose of life. Thus, one ‘s life in not in a vain.

The financial problem in that film also becomes the beginning of family conflict. Linda, Chris Gardner ‘s wife, leaves Gardner because financial instability. It is true that poverty could be the source of problem in a family, and ironically, it still happens today in our society. However, leaving a family to live a better economy is not the best choice to solve the problem. Instead of solving the problem, new problems will come. For example, children ‘s neglect because lacks of the perfect parents’ role in their life. However, as the movie is based on a real story, unfortunately the scene where Linda is leaving could not be avoided as it affects the emotion and the whole story.

A first impression causing a mistreated behavior is portrayed in the film, but Gardner faces it patiently. The depiction of being underrated and unappreciated because the first impressions are depicted clearly with Gardner ‘s office manager always asks him to do unnecessary things for example buy a coffee or doughnut. First impression is important in socializing but that does not make people have any right to mistreat anyone.

The Pursuit of Happyness is a movie that could motivate people. This move is recommended for people who thinks life is unfair or someone who is ungrateful with life. The show tells how unlucky man, Chris Gardner, could survive in poverty and get his light, the opportunity to turn a new page in life with his son. Yet, even though he meets obstacles in is life and loses his wife, he never gives up for his son. He believes, happiness is what we can only pursuit. The film that based on Gardner ‘s life also teaches: with happiness, determination, hard work, people could overcome their problem and get up from their darkest time. Happiness may come in any form. Happiness is what one believes and what one must pursuit. 

Works Cited

1. Conrad, S. (2006). The pursuit of happyness. New York: HarperCollins.
2. Franklin, D. (Producer), Black, T. (Producer), Blumenthal, J. (Producer), Lassiter, J. (Producer), Tisch, S. (Producer), & Smith, W. (Producer/Actor). (2006). The pursuit of happyness [Motion picture]. Columbia Pictures; Relativity Media.
3. Gardner, C. (2006). The pursuit of happyness: Chris Gardner. HarperCollins.
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