How many times do we feel happiness in our everyday life? By any chance, aren’t you living a hectic life filled with stuff that is necessary to survive?
Time passes so quickly while you are doing excessive assignments and frantically study for your exams. Obviously it is important to do your given work. But what’s more important is to find out what is significant to you and what are you living for. What will give you happiness?
Think carefully. Happiness is not far away. It exists in me. Some people think that they can’t achieve their dream because of their poor environment. However, if you see the movie ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’, you will be ashamed of what you have believed. In the overwhelming situation of exhaustion and severe pain from his life, the protagonist doesn’t give up and moves forward to his dream. Now, let’s look into the story ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’.
In 1980s San Francisco, when everyone was struggling with poverty due to the economic crisis, salesman Chris Gardner (Will Smith) bought a bone density scanner, which he thought to be a breakthrough medical device, investing all of his money. However, the sales work concluded that the equipment had already become obsolete. Its function was just a little better than X-ray but its price was twice as high as that of X-rays so doctors wouldn’t buy the device. Chris worked without a break going here and there to sell it but selling obsolete equipment was almost impossible. Unsold medical equipment piled up inside the house, and the economic situation got worse. His only son Christopher (Jaden Smith) spent his whole day waiting for his mom to pick him up in a crappy kindergarten. Cars got impounded and Chris couldn’t even pay for taxes so his wife couldn’t tolerate the situation and left them.
  Finally, Chris and Christopher were kicked out of their own home. Their remaining possessions were only $21.33. One day, Chris found out that a stockbroker’s job can be successful enough to drive a Ferrari. His desire for happiness got stronger as he watched the faces of people filled with laughter and happiness. And he applied for a position as a stockbroker intern with the hope, ‘If they can do it, I can do it!’ He passed the internship but he realized that it was an unpaid job and he should overcome a huge 60:1 competition. Without any academic degree and experience, his last challenge to become happy begun when he was living in a homeless facility and subway station. To get a place to sleep, he had to finish his work faster than others to get in line at the homeless facility. He desperately worked hard because he couldn’t let his son sleep in a destitute place forever.   Also, in order to earn enough money for a living, he merchandised medical devices and did the internship at the same time. The results of running around all over the place with his son, were that almost all the medical equipment was sold but due to overdue taxes, most of this money was spent. Nevertheless Chris never gave up despite the situation of an unpaid internship and severe competition with the economic difficulties. Finally, after taking the final test, he got a permanent position. He ran towards his son with happy tears and embraced him. The film ended with his pleasant conversation with his son.
Movie ‘The Pursuit of Happiness’ was based on a true story. In 1987, Chris Gardner established an investment company called ‘Gardner Rich’ and in 2006 he sold part of his stake in the company for hundreds of millions of dollars. He is currently the CEO of Christopher Gardener International Holdings which has branches in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. He is a wealthy person with $180 million (approximately 170 billion won) who is called a myth of Wall Street. Chris donates profusely and never forgets his hard times. He is an inspiring speaker who gives speeches with the theme of ‘the key to breaking the vicious cycle’ and shows hope for those who are in despair.
  Why does this movie receive exceeding love for a long time from so many people? Don’t you think it’s because people can see Chris’ effort to realize his goal even when he was in despair? Everyone has the right to pursue happiness, but we easily forget about the right. Think carefully what gives you happiness, and what are your goals and dreams through this film. A few famous lines from the movie are listed below. “Don’t ever let somebody tell you ‘you can’t do something’. Not even me. Alright?
“You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves. They wanna tell you. ‘You can’t do it.’ If you want something, go get it. Period!”
  The movie reminds us of the meaning of happiness and the importance of our effort. Plus, it also makes people feel the father’s instinct of love. The movie is ‘The Pursuit of Happiness.’