Focus on one of the most famous lines in cinema, uttered by Tom Hanks at the start of “Forrest Gump”.
From the exhilarating speech given by William Wallace before the Battle of Stirling in Braveheart to the moving life lesson of Rocky Balboa, through the philosophical precepts of Robin Williams in The Dead Poets’ Circle or the stimulating tirades of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings, cinema is full of inspiring lines which, many years after we heard them resonate in theaters, still motivate us today.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis in 1994 and considered by AlloCiné spectators as the best feature film of all time, Forrest Gump is a real gold mine in this area. Punctuated with dozens of little nuggets spoken by Tom Hanks throughout the film, this unforgettable American fresco, which traces the recent history of the United States through the eyes of its extraordinary protagonist, is particularly memorable thanks to its lines.
“Only stupidity is stupid”, “The best thing about meeting the President of the United States is the food”, “You have to leave the past behind if you want to move forward.”etc.
Deep, funny or moving, often inspired by Forrest Gump’s words by his mother, the lines of dialogue in the film are among those quotes that make us smile again, and which are sometimes even capable of helping us get up in the morning .
But it is at the very beginning of the film that the most famous line of all occurs. At exactly 3 minutes and 40 seconds, while he is waiting for the bus sitting on a bench and engaging in conversation with his neighbor, Forrest tells him:
“Mom always said: life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
Paramount Pictures
“Life is like a box of chocolates.”
This simple but very powerful little phrase, parodied and referenced many times subsequently, has established itself over time as one of the best-known quotes in cinema.
In addition to its great effectiveness and its pleasant sound which allow it to leave an indelible mark in the memories of its spectators, its fame very probably comes from the fact that it perfectly reflects Forrest’s personality: its apparent simplicity actually conceals an unsuspected depth. .
Indeed, behind these few naive and childish words lies the power to ward off melancholy, to break routine, to believe again in the future and to hope against all hope.
It is only in the last part of the film, during a flashback sequence where Forrest is at the bedside of his sick mother, that we really understand the meaning and context of this famous sentence.
Paramount Pictures
Destiny and chocolates
“I happen to think that we each make our destiny. We must do the best we can with what God has given us”declares Forrest’s mother to her son.
“What is my destiny?”, the latter asks him. It is at this moment that his mother responds by declaiming the line:
“You’ll have to find out for yourself. Life is a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you’re going to get.”
With these few words which gave him the strength and courage to move forward without looking back, Forrest was able to participate in the founding of the Apple company, find his beloved Jenny, cross the length and breadth of the United States in running for three years without stopping, getting married and raising her son.
(Re)discover all the hidden details of “Forrest Gump”…