Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump (1987)

Information at Internet Movie Database
Cinema in Focus, a social and spiritual commentary by Hal Conklin and Denny Wayman.
"Seeking the Spirit (in the Dark)," Jamee Kennedy, TheFilmForum: Christian Conversation about the Movies.
Review, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality & Health - Spiritual Practices for Human Being.
Themes
- Baptism
  - Doug Adams of Pacific School of Religion pointed out (and then played for us) the opening sequence of "Forrest Gump." In that sequence, the first thing we see is a feather dislodging from a dove flying overhead. The feather wafts along, almost alighting on several "acceptable" people, finally settling on Forrest, sitting on the bench, waiting for the bus. Mark 1:10: "...he saw...the Spirit descending like a dove on him." (submitted by Bob Andrews-Bryant)
  - Lieutenant Dan in the storm.
- Call
  - Forest runs across US "for no particular reason". He gains many followers. Start cue: on verandah and starts to run. End cue: "I think I?ll go home now, I?m tired." (submitted by Luke Whiteside, Youth Alpha Australia)
- Challenging God
  - Lieutenant Dan in the storm.
- Compassion/Mercy
  - The first schoolbus scene with Forrest trying to find a seat is a great lesson in mercy and compassion. While no one else would offer Forrest a seat, Jenny invites him to sit with her. (Bil Shappell/St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church, Lutherville, MD)
- Entry into Jerusalem/Palm Sunday
  - Lieutenant Dan talks about coming home from Vietnam a hero and then being pushed aside and even persecuted by folks who were protesting the war. Assumes a crucified Christ pose.
- Grief/Loss
  - Forrest mourns Jennie.
  - The scene where after Bubba dies, Forrest reflects on how if he had knew Bubba was going to die, he would have said more to Bubba the last time he talked to him. (Benjy Oliver)
- Father Figure
  - Forrest Gump as a father. (Closing scene)
- Friendship
  - Forrest demonstrates true friendship by going back into the jungle to save a friend?s life. Start cue: "I gotta find Bubba." End cue: jungle explodes behind Forrest Gump (submitted by Luke Whiteside, Youth Alpha Australia)
  - Forrest Gump where the Napalm hits and the jungle is about to explode and Forrest realizes that Bubba is still in there. He races back to get Bubba and the scene ends with Forrest running out of the fireball that used to be a Jungle carrying Bubba. This is a great clip to demonstrate that we need good Christian friends to carry us through tough times because sooner or later all of us have one of those times where the whole world is exploding around us. (Benjy Oliver)
- Love
  - I see the Hosea text as a pronouncement of God's never-ending love and of a constant courtship with us, even in light of our "whoredom". In light of that, I think Forrest Gump and his relationship with Jenny is helpful in understanding this text. Throughout the movie Forrest holds a deep love for Jenny, in spite of her flaws and her trysts with others. In the end, Forrest's love prevails and the two come together in marriage, with Forrest caring for her as she dies. Some may have trouble equating God with Forrest Gump, but I think the simplicity of the message of love here is what needs to be stressed, rather than seeing God as a man who sits on a bench saying, "Life is like a box of chocolates." (submitted by Shawn Stapleton)
- Surrender to the Divine
  - Lieutenant Dan in the storm.

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