Directed by Gabriele Muccino, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ is a heartbreaking narrative depicting the struggles and tenacity of an African-American single father striving for happiness against formidable challenges, accompanied by a “40-pound device.”
This ostensibly conventional Hollywood narrative of rags to riches reveals complexities beyond its superficial simplicity. Will Smith delivers a career-defining performance as Christopher Gardner, ensuring the narrative is sufficiently nuanced and devoid of excessive sentimentality.
A profoundly poignant narrative of a father and son, it also serves as a harsh illustration of the racial segregation evident in urban America during the 1980s. Let us now traverse the avenues of contemplation that the film neglects to explore.
Synopsis of The Pursuit of Happyness
In the initial scene, we encounter Christopher Gardner (Will Smith) and his son, Christopher Gardner Junior (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith), strolling over the streets of downtown San Francisco. Father Chris is attired in an inexpensive salesman suit, while baby Christopher is dressed in his kindergarten outfit.
The father possesses what appears to be a substantial piece of machinery, and following a moment of misunderstanding, in which a homeless individual is misled to think the device is a time machine, the audience learns that it is, in fact, a “portable bone-density scanner,” which pertains to the father’s profession.
The camera subsequently tracks the protagonist, revealing glimpses of his deteriorating family life. His spouse, Linda (Thandie Newton), harbors resentment and discontent with their financial struggles, as the devoted husband and father endeavors to sell one of these devices once more.
During a taxing sales excursion, he encounters a man arriving in a luxurious Ferrari by the roadside. Inquiring about the man’s prosperity, Chris learns about the stockbroking industry. Upon presenting this new work opportunity to his wife, Chris encounters disdain instead of support.
Maintaining his conviction, he enrolls in an internship program at the brokerage firm Dean Witter Reynolds and secures employment there at the film’s conclusion.
He encounters difficulties when his wife departs, leading to his eviction from both his apartment and subsequently a hotel due to nonpayment of rent. The father-son pair is compelled to reside in homeless shelters, churches, and even a subway restroom at night; nonetheless, these challenges never sufficiently deter our larger-than-life protagonist.
Despite the audience being informed of the protagonist’s achievement through the title cards, several unresolved questions persist that the film does not clearly address.
The Pursuit of Happyness Ending: Does Happiness Only Come from Money?
Ultimately, Chris secures the position and retrieves the five dollars he had previously lent to Mr. Frohm. A traditional rags-to-riches narrative, it occasionally resembles yet another Hollywood portrayal of America as a neoliberal utopia where happiness is synonymous with wealth.
A thorough examination of the footage, however, will disclose significantly more. Happiness is recognized as one of the unalienable rights granted to American citizens in the Declaration of Independence.
The film primarily explores the discovery of optimism during challenging periods, eliciting both laughter and tears as the characters maintain composure, diligence, and complexity throughout, avoiding excessive melodrama.
Near the film’s conclusion, Chris escorts his son to Crissy Field beach to enjoy an afternoon together “away from everything.” We experience tranquility despite Chris acknowledging the persistent burden of disappointment that occupies his thoughts.
It is proposed that these moments, rather than the numerous handshakes, are what render happiness worthy of pursuit. In these instances, the film sheds its superficial Hollywood facade to adopt an Italian neorealist perspective reminiscent of Frank Capra or Vittorio De Sica’s works.
What Does Chris’s Machine Indicate?
The protagonist’s burden arises from harsh conditions, metaphorically depicted by the equipment Chris must transport, and also reflects the tumultuous history of a nation that has systematically marginalized racial minorities through centuries of subjugation.
The film predominantly features affluent middle-aged white males with sports automobiles as its joyful characters. Conversely, those of color are depicted as disgruntled, oppressed, and shattered by a pervasive system of racial discrimination, with the exception of the effortlessly charismatic Will Smith.
The film does not overtly compensate for the protagonist’s struggles; however, the director employs swift camera movements and carefully selected color palettes to highlight the racial tension. Within the pristine office of Dean Witter Reynolds, we do not encounter any other African-American individual apart from Chris.
In a subsequent scene, the panning camera tracks a group of Caucasians in a sports automobile before centering on the line of African-Americans outside the night shelter, highlighting the pronounced inequality characteristic of Reagan-era American culture.
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