"Maybe we're just floatin' accidental-like on a breeze"
The main focal point of the opening sequence of Forrest Gump is a single white feather floating through the scene. The feather represents many things within the film. One thing it represents is being Forrest Gump's peaceful and soft nature and the simplicity of his mind. By having a white feather it emphasizes the innocence and purity of Forrest Gump as the colour white is often associated with heaven and all things biblical. It also adds a level of elegance to the film as the feather is softly and elegantly floating through the scene.
By having the feather float over a car, it represents the journey that he goes on and how he has overcome many obstacles throughout the film. This visual metaphor is used in a lot of opening sequences to set the overall feel of the film and to hint at the simple yet surprisingly outstanding story that is about to unfold without the audience realizing. Another example of when this technique is used is in American Beauty. However instead of a feather they used a plastic bag to show that some times the everyday things we think nothing of and often ignore can be some of the most extravagant of them all. When looking at a feather or a plastic bag, or in this case Forrest Gump and Lester Burnham, to most people they are everyday things and nothing out of the ordinary. When in fact they are more than what initially meets the eye. Both characters live quite a lonely existence, however they deal with this lifestyle in two very different ways, so by having a solitary item to represent them it emphasizes their loneliness. The feather, which represents Forrest Gump, moves in a soft way gently floating on the light breeze; this suggests that Forrest Gump is slowly and calming floating through life at his own accord. However the plastic bag, which represents Lester Burnham, moves in a very wide and manic way as though being uncontrollably blown around; this suggests that Lester Burnham is angrily being pushed through life by the many disappointing aspects in his life.
As well as overcoming many obstacles on his journey, Forrest Gump is also emotionally connected with or touched many people with his inspiring journey. For example later in the film when he goes on a run, he inspires so many people by just being his simple self. As well as inspiring so many people his actions also affected many major events in history. An example of this would be when he stays in the Watergate Hotel and calls reception simply to help someone who he thinks is in trouble when in fact he actually stops a major burglary. Just like the feather Forrest Gump goes through life and accidentally passes throw events and helps so many people in doing so. Despite doing this, he is completely unaware of how much he is impacting the lives of people around him.
After watching the feather go on a journey throughout the opening sequence, when it finally lands, it lands next to Forrest Gump's muddy running shoes. Just by looking at these shoes the audience can see that he has been through a lot and has lived a full and interesting life. This full and interesting life is a complete contrast to the simple journey the feather has just been on. When the feather lands next to Forrest's shoes it suggests that the feather represents a new, clean beginning for him and a different life to the outstanding one he has already lived. On first appearances Forrest Gump looks like a really simple man but his shoes are the first sign that there is more to him than meets the eye. Like the feather Forrest looks plain and simple, as a result of this all the way through his journey Forrest Gump gets judged by his initial appearance. However little do people know he is an incredible man who has been on an extraordinary journey.
By having a close-up of Forrest Gump picking up the feather, it suggests that he is accepting of a new start to life and is intrigued as to what it could hold. As well as this, when Forrest Gump picks up the feather it makes it clear to the audience that the feather is a representation of him and his journey. It shows that you can go anywhere and do anything, your destiny is left to the chances that you take, but ultimately your fate is in your own hands.
The music:
The music within the opening sequence is also very gentle and peaceful, just like the feather and Forrest. By having a very calming music playing in the background of the opening sequence, it makes the audience feel happy and leads them to believe that the film is going to be equally as calm as the music. This then emphasizes the slightly more graphic scenes, such as the war, and makes them seem even more violent as they are a complete contrast to the opening sequence.
The lighting:
The lighting through out the opening sequence is very soft yet bright, which suggests that the story of the film is a very calm and peaceful one and has a bright ending to it. This gives the audience hope, through the darker scenes, that things with get better.
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