Finding Forrester is a source of inspiration

The author, 19, is from Roxas City. He finished elementary school at the Filamer Christian College in Roxas City, high school at the Santa Maria Catholic School in Iloilo City and is now enrolled at the University of San Agustin. He’s a Roman Catholic.

While I’m a fan of sci-fi movies, it came to me as a surprise that a dramatic film would be the one to leave a mark on my life. Finding Forrester is my favorite movie and it has always been a source of inspiration.

Finding Forrester is a very deep movie and I honestly have never fully understood it. It could mean many things to the one who would watch it. This movie revolves around the life of an ordinary African-American teenager named Jamal. Jamal is not just the only central character though, there’s also the old and grumpy William Forrester (played by Sean Connery).

When William Forrester was young, he was regarded as a genius in the field of writing. In the film, he is referred to by one of the characters as "one of the only persons who could truly write." Sadly though, the writer genius published only one masterpiece. After the huge success of his book, Avalon Flight, William Forrester disappeared, leaving the writing community wondering.

Time flies fast and there is still no sign of William Forrester. Within a few more years, the mystery of his disappearance would have been forgotten. But the legendary author and his book would be studied for generations.

No one really knows what happened to Forrester – not that it was anyone’s business – but nobody really bothered to look for him anyway.

Fate intervenes and brings Jamal and Forrester together. Unknown to them, something will happen to them beyond just ordinary friendship. Their friendship will be unlike anything both of them has ever known. It is unlike the connection that Jamal has with his friends and his family; it is unlike anything that Forrester has ever experienced.

Jamal and Forrester are two very different persons. Jamal is outgoing and into sports while Forrester is extremely introverted. For some strange reason, Forrester has stopped living. He refuses to go out of his sleazy apartment and even has all the things he needs delivered to him – his socks, food, money, everything. He is afraid of something, afraid of people due to a certain unpleasant experience in the past, an unforgettable event that has made him hate everyone and live life in a box. Though Jamal and Forrester seem to be at the opposite ends of a spectrum, they do share one thing —writing.

Since her husband left them, Jamal’s mother has noticed that her son’s behavior has changed radically. Jamal begins to read books that she herself doesn’t even know or understand. Unknown to her, her son also writes. Writing becomes an outlet for Jamal’s emotional dilemma. It gives him something that his mother or his brother can never offer – satisfaction. Everytime he feels lonely or confused, he conveys his emotions by writing.

A basketball game with his friends one day changes Jamal’s life forever. His friends apparently think that the old man (Forrester) who keeps peeping from his window while the boys are at play is weird. This leads to a dare of some sort, with Jamal having to go inside the grumpy old man’s bunk and, well, look around. Thinking that the old man isn’t home, the curious Jamal lets himself in. The place looks messy, it is filled with books. Not long after, someone — probably Forrester — comes in and a startled Jamal scampers for the nearest exit. In his hurry, he leaves his backpack with his unfinished write-ups still inside. Of course the old man sees them.

Forrester, having read Jamal’s works, and being the expert that he is, writes comments on Jamal’s notepads. The next day Jamal returns hoping to retrieve his things. Forrester is furious of course, refusing to even talk to the kid. Jamal keeps coming back though, insisting that his things be returned. Finally, Forrester bargains that if Jamal writes something explaining why he had done what he did, he might just return the boy’s works. Forrester insists that it should at best he composed of 1500 words. Jamal delivers his 1500-word essay and Forrester is impressed by the young man’s literary ability.

From this unpleasant first encounter, their friendship begins. Jamal visits as much as Forester allows him to and with each visit, they grow closer. Forrester slowly begins to accept that with Jamal’s persistent questioning, the outside world is necessary. And Jamal learns things that no one can teach him at school.

As with any relationship, trials come to Jamal’s and Forrester’s as well. However, their bond is too strong to be broken.

Jamal and Forrester’s friendship is unlike any other. It is genuine and it is the kind that we should all have. It is beyond age or kinship or race. It made me realize that respect and admiration are what makes friendship tick. I believe this is the only way to make friends and friendships that last beyond a lifetime.