FINDING FORRESTER
Essay
by Jodi McKay
9C
Part A - Explanatory Paragraph
The scene where Jamal takes Forrester to the empty baseball field is a pivotal point in their relationship and the movie. While researching Forrester, Jamal knew the baseball field was very important to him. Forrester confides in Jamal that he and his brother went to every baseball game until his brother went to war. One night, after an evening of drinking, he allowed his brother to drive home and he was killed in a car crash. He said after that everything changed for them and within five months he buried his mom, dad and brother.
Jamal turned to him and said “the rest of those who have gone before us cannot steady the unrest of those that follow”. It was here that Forrester and Jamal friends solidified and where the end of the movie was foretold.
When Forrester came to the school to support Jamal he read “losing family obliges us to find our family - not always the family that is our blood but the family that can become our blood and should we have the wisdom to open our door” and it was then he realized the one thing he had wished for was the gift of friendship – and he had received this with Jamal.
Part B – Paragraph Essay
“Finding Forrester”
The movie “Finding Forrester” is about the relationship between a young man who is from the poor end of town and an elderly man who has been hiding away in his apartment. Their relationship starts off uneasy after Jamal breaks into Forrester’s home. As the story progresses the two become friends, but it is more than just friends – it is about slowly learning about each other, the respect that is built for each other, their love of writing and the loyalty to each other that develops. How did two such different people come together and form such a tight bond and friendship?
Two very different people - one common passion. Is this enough to build a friendship on? Jamal comes from a very different world than Forrester. The opening of the movie shows what life was like for Jamal growing up in a poor black neighbourhood, in a single-parent home. For Forrester, he is a recluse, who retreated from life after publishing his book Avalon Landing and losing his family. After a dare from his friends, Jamal breaks into Forrester’s house, leaving his backpack containing his journals. When his backpack is returned, he finds his journals have been edited. Jamal finds the courage to knock on Forrester’s door...
