Film Analysis Assignment

Sunbul 5

ENG 1100-2

October 2, 2018

Movie analysis

Different movies communicate different elements that can assist in bringing about a greater understanding of the theme, the cultural values addressed, and the perspectives of individuals in their lives. In the light of this, in this paper I am focusing on comparing two films, “The Pursuit of Happyness” and “Lion.” In the comparison, different elements will be covered. The features include the themes present in each of the films, the connections between the two movies, which include their similarities, the cultural values addressed by the two films, and people’s perspectives as represented in the films. The analysis will inform the identification of whether individuals in the society have the same or different approaches to life, considering their experiences in their particular environment. (Include small summery about two movies)

The main theme in the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” is success, happiness and equity. In this regard, Americans are free to seek happiness, which might be achieved through the transient or the material objects at their disposal. According to Ren Junhong, the pursuit of the American dream should not be limited, translated into happiness, should not be limited to an individual’s race, given that the African Americans in the U.S. society also have the right to pursue happiness (18). The main theme in the movie Provide an example from the movie something that happened in a scene. “Lion” is related to the idea of identity (Judah 6). In this regard, the theme of identity and belonging leads to the questioning of whether individuals can escape their realities. Following the need to look for his identity and belonging, considering the idea that he was different from his parents, the main character in the film focuses on finding his roots, a concept that introduces the element of belonging to a particular society. The two movies relate to each other based on the idea that their themes collide. The themes in the movies are based on the concept of belonging to a particular group or a specific cultural heritage. In this regard, the themes of the two movies are based on the consideration of whether individuals in the modern society can escape their true self or their situations in the society. In this case, the movies explore the realities that people face in their daily lives, the dilemmas that they face, and the challenges faced regarding identifying themselves with their kind in the society (Judah 6). The different forms of identification provide an avenue that assists in bringing to light the understanding of the manner in which cultural values affect social relations in the society. Comment by Sunbul, Jumanah Dhiya B: example from movie something that happened in a scene!

The cultural values represented in the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” is the value of individualism vs. equality. In this regard, individualism forms the essence of the American culture since people in the American society follow the individual-oriented philosophy of life (Junhong 18). The culture of individualism has been rooted in the American society for ages, which advocates for the pursuit of individualistic interests. (Write another idea related to the movie or make it easier to understand with an example scene! )

In the movie “Lion,” the cultural value represented relates to the importance of cultural heritage. In this case, the movie sheds some light on the sensitive issues related to the idea of adoption, including the motives of parents interested in adopting children from different cultures to their culture. Cultural differences can be a defining the idea that an individual might be struggling with when trying to understand who they are (Judah 6), particularly for children adopted by parents of another culture. Saroo, the main character in the movie, clearly describe this struggle at the first of his adopted days. It was hard for him not knowing the language and moving to a new culture and new people. After many years, the conflict forces him to embark on a journey to determine his roots, a decision that his adopted parents support.

The different perspectives being shown by the characters in the film “The Pursuit of Happyness” is that there are those people that are privileged in the society, whereas there are those that are not privileged. Example from movie scene. The same perspective is displayed in the film “Lion.” In this case, the poor people in the society, such as those from Saroo’s hometown, would not have provided Saroo with the education needed to pursue a good life. Before Saroo adopted, he was collecting the rocks with his brother in the time that he supposed to be in school., would not have provided Saroo with the education needed to pursue a good life.

The similarity between the two films is the idea that both of them are based on actual events. They characterized the actual lives of individuals that underwent the circumstances shown. This provision is one of the elements that make the two films interesting to watch. The movies are vital for ensuring that the audience gains an understanding of the manner in which the world works, considering the differences in culture, socio-economic statuses, race, and beliefs. A common element between the two movies is that they are carriers of culture for they convey the background of different cultures.

Conclusion + Cite the movies.

Reference

Judah, Tara. "Worlds away: Geography and belonging in Garth Davis''Lion'." Metro Magazine: Media & Education Magazine 192 (2017): 6.

Junhong, Ren. "Cultural Interpretation of the Pursuit of Happyness." International Conference on Applied Social Science Research. (2014): 18-19.