In Pursuit of Happyness
“Never write a post when you are angry.” That was one of the first advices I got when I started blogging, and that is why I waited 4 weeks before talking about Will Smith’s film.
This is what I wanted to write initially: “Have you seen the movie In Pursuit of Happyness? If you didn’t don’t bother, I’ll explain it to you. A guy is poor. He gets rich. Money is happiness. The end.”
Why did I feel angry? The reason is simple: I think that the sophisticated way in which the “get rich or die trying” message is delivered might lead us to believe that maybe money IS happiness after all…
Can money make us happy? It is a well know fact that if our basic needs are met, more money do not bring more happiness. On this topic, you might enjoy reading a famous study on lottery winners, which shows how winning a large sum of money does not make us happier.
If winning the lottery does not make you happy, one might argue that succeeding in climbing the career ladder is a different matter altogether: you have fought for your goals and surely you value what you have achieved. Unfortunately climbing might become a way of life, and as soon as you reach the top, hey presto, there is another peak to conquer.
Furthermore, many don't make it to the top: what happiness can they find if the world keeps telling them that only successful people can be happy?
Finally, most of those who succeed pay a very high price in terms of family and personal health: If I ever get run over by a car, as it happens to Will Smith in the film, rest assured that I will go to the hospital, not straight back to work as Will does! “Get rich” is fine, but please don’t “Die trying”...
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whether you think you can or whether you think you cannot, guess what?
YOU'RE RIGHT!
Posted by: Daniel Lake
What you percieved from the movie, seems wrong to me... The movie shows a poor guys struggle against all odds of luck.
It shows that he tried better than his best in all diverse circumstances.
And it is not just a story of a poor man getting rich... he didn't won a lottery or something... he struggled 6 months for the job... the money is what he made afterwards, not instantaneously, and the struggle of that 6 months is a really hard thing to do...
I can never think if I can do it, nor I am willing to be tested.
And finally, the moral of the story is not 'money means happiness'... if you cared to finish the movie.. then you might have listened to the last sentence..." This part of my life... this little part... is called HAPPINESS'.
I hope that clears you with your misconceptions.
Hope you see the movie again with a clear view.
Regards,
Cipher
Posted by: shivam dhawan
It's not about a comfortable guy getting rich; he was sleeping in bathrooms and homeless shelters at night with his son. He was disappointed in himself as a father, not being able to provide for his own family. The message was not "money makes you happy" at all. I loved the movie.
Posted by: Egon
I agree with Cipher. The movie is about overcoming obstacles, not making money. His happiness was his son, and his ability to give his son everything he could. His happiness was not being homeless anymore. His happiness was perservering through all of those obstacles. The moral was not "money is happiness", but I humbly sumbit that having a home, food, and a regular income go a long way toward relieving stress.
~ak
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