In this blog post, I will examine the American history and culture depicted in the film ‘Forrest Gump’, its narrative style that blends fact and fiction, and the growth of Forrest and the lives of those around him, in order to critically analyze the image of America presented by the film and the deeper meanings hidden beneath the surface.
To Forrest, America was a land of opportunity
A crooked building named “Forrest Gump,” built on a solid foundation.
The “Forrest Gump” I watched left me with two contrasting impressions. When I first saw it during my teenage years, it was a film that focused on the life of the special and unique protagonist, Forrest, and I watched his transformation with great fascination. However, when I revisited ‘Forrest Gump’ some time later, my focus shifted to his surroundings. On a broader scale, I became interested in the United States as a nation; on a smaller scale, I began to take an interest in the lives of his lovers and friends—that is, the lives of Americans.
When viewed solely as a work of art, ‘Forrest Gump’ is certainly worthy of praise and has undeniably left a special mark on film history. However, various situations hidden within the film paint the United States in a particularly distinctive light. I would like to focus on the country and its people from a perspective slightly different from the American exceptionalism frequently discussed in existing criticism. In a sense, I aim to draw attention to the backdrop of ‘Forrest Gump’, which at times appears lonely and at other times seems to strive to appear special.
The Power of the Autobiographical Genre
Autobiographical stories chronicling a person’s life have long served as important material across various media. These stories have been adapted into literary and artistic works to make them more accessible to the public, and today, I believe the most familiar mediums through which we encounter such stories are the literary genre of the autobiography and film.
A typical autobiography is a narrative told in the past tense, structured chronologically, and characterized by the fact that the author, the narrator, and the protagonist are one and the same. “Forrest Gump” is a film that brings this autobiographical narrative style to the screen. While the film’s depiction of time freely shifts between the present and the past, the numerous episodes that Forrest recounts as he reflects on his life unfold in chronological order, forming a single chronicle. Furthermore, historical facts appear in all of these episodes, and the protagonist, Forrest, finds himself at the center of these historical events—whether by chance or by necessity.
Through Forrest’s autobiographical narrative, which is intertwined with historical events, the audience naturally absorbs two types of information. One is historical context regarding the United States, and the other is the image of Americans as portrayed by Forrest. There is a strong sense that the thoughts and feelings each individual audience member harbors about the United States are filtered to some extent through the film’s protagonist, Forrest. In other words, it’s as if they are viewing the story through the “Forrest filter.”
The film begins with a story that reads like Forrest’s autobiography, complete with this sort of protective mechanism. While waiting for a bus in a seemingly peaceful American park, Forrest tells his story to the people sitting next to him. It is particularly noteworthy that his story begins with his childhood—a distant past—making for a unique opening.
With no prior explanation, the film depicts young Forrest, and a scene in a hospital reveals that he is a child with a disability who must wear a leg brace. At this point, the film introduces historical facts for the first time by mentioning that the name “Forrest” is derived from a general who served during the Civil War. The historical backdrop of the Civil War and the KKK mentioned in the film takes the story’s timeline from the mid-1990s through the mid-20th century and back to the mid-19th century. This hints that the historical events to come will shed light on the development and changes in American society.
Audiences who naturally recognize the historical context—a time when American industrialization and economic growth were in full swing—experience a subtle shift in their perspective on the United States from the very beginning of the film. Examples include the American flag that young Forrest drew himself and hung in his room; the scene where Elvis Presley, the singer who dominated an era, stays as a boarder in Forrest’s home and draws inspiration for his dance moves from Forrest’s actions; and the scene where Forrest goes on to college through American football—a sport popular among Americans—and achieves a thrilling victory. I believe all these episodes dramatically depict elements that play a significant role in American life, while showing the process by which Forrest—who faces unique challenges—is accepted as a valued member of society.
The mother’s determination to raise her son with pride—even in a society that views parents of children with disabilities with pity—Forrest’s natural integration into American society as he grows up, and, furthermore, the scene in the middle of the film where he enlists in the military to fight for his country—all flow seamlessly together. This offers a glimpse into the American mindset, where a commitment to family leads to a commitment to society and, ultimately, expands into a value system that prioritizes the nation.
Written from an American perspective, this autobiographical-style story—by embodying such values—might indirectly “Americanize” the audience.
The Blurred Line Between Reality and Forrest’s Growth
The University of Alabama, where Forrest attended, is famous as the site of significant events in American history. In fact, in 1963, racial discrimination became a major issue at the University of Alabama due to efforts to block the admission of Black students and the federal government’s intervention to prevent this. It is a historical fact that the governor’s attempt to block the admission of Black students was thwarted, and they were ultimately admitted. On the other hand, the scene in which Forrest—who happened to be attending that university at the time—picks up a book dropped by a Black student entering a building is fictional.
Here, I believe Forrest’s action demonstrated an attitude of opposition to discrimination that took precedence over any political judgment in the face of racial discrimination. Unlike President Kennedy in real history, who mobilized the authority of the federal government to assist Black students’ admission, Forrest picks up the dropped book without any political intent. In that sense, his action can be interpreted as a pure expression of rejecting racial discrimination, preceding any complex political judgment.
As mentioned earlier, audiences exposed to both factual and fictional elements may make errors in distinguishing between them. This is because the protagonist, Forrest, naturally exemplifies morally correct behavior. By observing Forrest’s actions, the audience comes to accept that what is morally and logically right must be done. I believe Aristotle’s proposition that “man is a social animal” and Kant’s moral philosophy serve as important examples to explain this psychological state of the audience.
Another significant episode—the Vietnam War—is, in my view, the film’s most crucial historical backdrop. As one of the longest-running wars in American history—a conflict in which the U.S. at the time cited the defense of democracy as its justification—this war serves as the greatest catalyst for Forrest’s personal growth. It provided an opportunity for Forrest to expand his social circle, which had previously centered on his mother and Jenny; during the war, he not only made new friends but also experienced the loss of one of them.
After returning to the U.S. following the war, Forrest accidentally finds himself participating in an anti-war demonstration. Forrest, who believed he had fought for America and democracy, now finds himself giving a speech in front of anti-war protesters and receiving cheers. Of course, due to someone’s interference, the microphone cuts out, and his speech is inaudible to the audience. This scene is paradoxical and leaves the viewer wondering what Forrest actually said. However, the film soon shifts to a romantic subplot featuring a dramatic reunion with Jenny, appearing to avoid focusing on the war itself.
Up until the point where Jenny becomes immersed in hippie culture and the film showcases various aspects of American culture at the time, I thought this was a film that offered the pleasure of being viewed and interpreted from multiple perspectives. However, once political events—such as the assassination of President Kennedy and President Nixon’s Watergate scandal—unfold, and Forrest becomes directly or indirectly involved in them, my perception of the story begins to change.
I believe Forrest’s growth is nearly complete by this point. Just as an adult stops growing taller, it becomes increasingly difficult to see Forrest evolving alongside the historical backdrop. In fact, the film’s biased political tone becomes so pronounced that even a student who has studied world history would easily notice it. The time has now come for the audience to separate the two perspectives through which they view fact and fiction.
Forrest is neither a conservative, nor an American supremacist, nor a racist.
As ‘Forrest Gump’ enters its second half, cracks begin to appear in the blend of fact and fiction, prompting reflection on the film’s genre ambiguity. Some view this film as a work with strong romantic elements, while others see it as a fantasy film. A few critics even describe it as a political film.
I believe ‘Forrest Gump’ is a well-made comedy and drama. However, I do see issues with the way it utilizes historical facts as a backdrop. If the filmmakers had intended to reference actual history while depicting Forrest’s coming-of-age story, there would have been plenty of historical episodes they could have drawn upon. However, I believe the film overlooks quite a few aspects due to its focus on political events.
Considering that the United States—now a leading global power—achieved remarkable cultural growth following its industrialization, the film would have been far more compelling had it drawn more richly on these cultural shifts as its primary backdrop. Yet, the scenes representing popular culture in the film were limited to episodes involving Elvis Presley or John Lennon, and even those were only briefly touched upon. On the contrary, hippie culture—one of the key elements in the evolution of American culture—appears to have been distorted into something tragic through the character of Jenny, who led an unhappy life.
“Forrest Gump,” which has already been the subject of countless analyses and reviews, has been criticized by some progressive critics as a film that conveys conservative ideology. In fact, when reading such critiques, there are parts that make one nod in agreement. However, I don’t think it’s necessary to view this film solely through such a critical lens from the outset.
When viewed as a coming-of-age story about the innocent Forrest, he is neither a conservative, nor an American supremacist, nor a racist. He is simply Forrest, an American citizen. And I’d like to highlight the fact that, from Forrest’s perspective, America was quite a livable country.
Although his love for Jenny did not reach its full potential, unable to transcend social norms and customs, the life Forrest lived is a story of great value in and of itself. Where else can you find a story as wonderful as an autobiography—the story of Forrest, who spent his life constantly running, born with a disability yet growing into a respectable young man, a husband, and a father?
