Synopsis
The Pursuit of Happyness is an amazing biographical drama that was inspired by the life of Chris Gardner, a single father who, against all odds, triumphs over homelessness to provide a better life for himself and his son. The film is directed by Gabriele Muccino, with a script by Steven Conrad. Will Smith plays Gardner, and his son, Jaden Smith, portrays Christopher Jr.
In the early 1980s, San Francisco, the film starts with Chris Gardner employed as a salesman for bone density scanners. While the X-ray like devices had a market, and he believed investment provided with a business and financial security, the opposite happened. Sales of the scanner were few and he was in deeper debt, which was made worse by his life savings getting spent on the scans.
At the same time, his personal life begins to unravel. His wife, Linda (played by Thandiwe Newton) is overworked for a long period and starts struggling with burnout, which, in turn, makes her dislike the financial instability that Gardner’s business is facing. The lack of coping mechanisms and persistence of the financial issues eventually makes her hit the end of the rope and Chris become a single father looking after Christopher Jr.
Even with his difficult conditions in life, Chris continues to fight for a better future for his son. One day, his life changes when he has a life-altering talk with a stockbroker that steps out of his luxury car. This new world of finance incites Chris to apply for the internship at Dean Witter Reynolds, a brokerage firm. Despite the fact that the internship is unpaid and only one out of twenty hopefuls is offered full time employment, Chris views the opportunity as a means to finally change his life.
The unpaid internship, fatherhood, and the struggle to sell the remaining bone scanners poses a significant challenge in Chris’s life. Things take a sharp decline when he is evicted and is forced to sleep in public restrooms, parks, and on the streets with his son. Even in these conditions, Chris puts on a brave face to shield his son, Christopher Jr. from the ordeal and constantly showers his love and praise to his son to protect his mental wellbeing.
The movie emphasizes certain moments of struggle and determination. One of the most poignant moments is when Chris and his son huddle together in a locked subway station bathroom for the night. This is the only place Chris can keep his son safe while maintaining a job out of the bathroom. These desperate moments are in stark contrast to the boundless resolve of Chris, who now works to the bone at the firm in the only suit he owns. Chris works well beyond expectations, opening and closing the firm before everyone else, and in his only spare suit.
Somehow managing through the legal firm’s maze Chris decides to tackle first, Chris eventually reaches the light at the end of the tunnel. Obtaining a phone and obtaining the necessary permits, he sets out to test his theories and approaches with real clients in the years to come. Mostly, Chris finishes his legal intern and is able to path-stepping over the free months for his earned degree. In his final moment of the movie, Chris is shot in a level of full emotional guidance while walking out of the legal firm he was ponding hours to inter.
The filming conclude by posting out the information that Gardner went on to constitute his own legal firm that offers multi milliotn simplex payouts.
Cast & Crew
Will Smith as Chris Gardner:
Will Smith as Chris Gardner is arguably one of his greatest performances ever. Smith is known for his charm and his comedic acting; however, in this film, he assumes the role of Chris Gardner is much deeper and more grounded. He plays the character with emotion and vulnerability and raw strength. His performance received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and he was lauded by critics for the performance.
Jaden Smith as Christopher Jr.:
Jaden Smith, Will Smith’s biological son, plays Gardner’s child in the film. He plays the role Gardner’s son with wit and charm. Their chemistry is beautiful and it makes the film more touching and the sadder moments more at impactful. In the film, he makes his acting debut.
Thandiwe Newton as Linda Gardner:
Newton portrays Linda with nuance and frustration, depicting a woman at the end of her rope. While her character exits early on in the film, her performance helps set up the stakes of Chris’s struggle.
Brian Howe as Jay Twistle:
Howe plays the manager at Dean Witter who initially interviews Chris. His character is both a barrier and a beacon of opportunity for Chris as he provides an opportunity for him to prove himself in the crushing world of finance.
James Karen as Martin Frohm:
Karen takes on the role of one of the senior partners at the firm, and he plays a pivotal role in the concluding segments of Chris’s internship. The scenes straddle the dichotomy of corporate life: characterless machinery of work and the queue of corporate drones, with the gleam of acknowledgment visible at the end of the line.
Director – Gabriele Muccino:
The choice of Italian director Muccino was somewhat surprising for an American story, however, his direction is focused and efficient. The story is propelled forward with all of its emotional weight, free of surface melodrama.
Screenplay – Steven Conrad:
The screenplay is crafted from Chris Gardner’s memoir and it succinctly encapsulates the multifaceted life of an individual, within the span of two hours. Along with balancing the despair and hope in Gardner’s life, Conrad manages to capture the emotional crescendos and decrescendos with a solid grasp and tenderness.
Cinematography – Phedon Papamichael:
Moments of struggle are portrayed in the cold blues and grays, while warm tones burst forth in scenes of achievement. The film’s visual palette set the themes of the story. The cinematography is executed in a manner that does not draw attention to itself and rather serves the story.
Music – Andrea Guerra:
The score includes gentle piano and orchestrals that elevate the emotional core without overshadowing pivotal moments, aligning beautifully with the film’s progression.
IMDb Scores and Reviews
The Pursuit of Happyness has a rating of 8.0 on IMDb, demonstrating robust audience appreciation. Both critics and viewers appreciated the film for its inspirational storyline and praised performances.
Will Smith was particularly noted for the strength of his performance. As the character, he was described as simultaneously deeply vulnerable and a quiet, strong man determined not to be broken by his circumstances. Smith was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance.
Though some critics considered the film overly sentimental or predictable, the emotional impact and the real-life basis of the storyline resonated with many. The unbreakable bond between a father and son was also praised, along with the positive themes of hard work, perseverance, and the deep bond of father and son.
The film does not glorify Chris Gardner by seeing him as a superhero. We see a man who does triumph, but he is also deeply flawed—scared, and uncertain—and it is this humanity that connects his story with the audience.
Final Thoughts
The Pursuit of Happyness is not only a story of a rags to riches tale. Rather, it is the story of love, persistence, and unceasing pursuit of a dream. It underscores that happiness is not an inherent state of being, but rather an elusive goal requiring relentless pursuit, steep hardships, and sacrifice.
Will Smith’s portrayal and Chris Gardner’s inspiring true story illustrate a timeless and universal tale of grit: the film reveals that love and determination can win the impossible. Ultimately, the film is not merely about the monetary achievements of the individual; rather, it is much deeper: the individual’s reclamation of dignity, hope, and the promise of a better future for his children.
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