Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis, is a heartfelt, humorous, and emotionally powerful drama that follows the extraordinary life of Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), a kind-hearted man with a low IQ but an exceptional capacity for love, perseverance, and innocence. The story is told through Forrest’s perspective as he sits on a bench in Savannah, Georgia, recounting his life story to strangers who sit beside him.
Forrest begins by describing his childhood in Alabama, where he was raised by his loving mother Mrs. Gump (Sally Field). Though Forrest struggles academically, his mother encourages him to believe he is no different from anyone else. He forms a deep lifelong bond with a girl named Jenny Curran, whose life will remain intertwined with his for decades. Despite physical leg braces as a child, Forrest surprises everyone with his natural speed and eventually becomes a star high school football player, earning a college scholarship.
After college, Forrest enlists in the U.S. Army and is deployed to Vietnam, where he befriends fellow soldier Bubba, who dreams of owning a shrimp business. In a devastating attack, Bubba is killed, and Forrest saves many of his fellow soldiers, including Lieutenant Dan Taylor, who loses his legs and falls into deep resentment and hopelessness. Forrest is awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
Following the war, Forrest keeps his promise to Bubba by starting a shrimping company, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., with Lieutenant Dan eventually joining him as a partner. The business becomes incredibly successful, making Forrest a wealthy man. Despite fame and fortune, Forrest’s heart remains with Jenny, who drifts in and out of his life, struggling with trauma, rebellion, and self-destruction.
Years later, Jenny returns, and the two finally reconnect on a deeper level. She reveals they have a son, Forrest Jr., and Forrest discovers a new meaning to life as a father. Jenny and Forrest marry, but happiness is short-lived when she becomes terminally ill. After her death, Forrest dedicates himself to raising their son with love, tenderness, and stability.
The film ends where it began—with Forrest at the bus stop, preparing to walk his son to his first day of school. Forrest watches the feather float away in the breeze, symbolizing life’s unpredictability and beauty. Though simple in mind, Forrest’s life is remarkable—marked not by intelligence or power, but by goodness, loyalty, and enduring love.
