Forrest Gump predecessors

[The Nard]

Had a good discourse with some friends the other day , discussing how impactful this movie was to US audiences. Rather than being a singular moment in cinema, I maintained that there were previous films that had the ignorant but “Everyman” personna, that strolled through historic events.

I mentioned 2 films that had these features: “Being There” with Peter Sellers’s, and “Zelig”, a Woody Allen production. I also added that this theme was also apparent in many of the earlier silent films of Buster Keaton

Few knew what I was alluding to. So I’m asking you all - what other films can you think of that had a similar theme to Forrest Gump?

[BarkCampbell]

Life of Brian

[edwin drood]

Had a good discourse with some friends the other day , discussing how impactful this movie was to US audiences. Rather than being a singular moment in cinema, I maintained that there were previous films that had the ignorant but “Everyman” personna, that strolled through historic events.

I mentioned 2 films that had these features: “Being There” with Peter Sellers’s, and “Zelig”, a Woody Allen production. I also added that this theme was also apparent in many of the earlier silent films of Buster Keaton

Few knew what I was alluding to. So I’m asking you all - what other films can you think of that had a similar theme to Forrest Gump?

Interesting topic. Chance the Gardener was just on TCM a couple of days ago. Positively brilliant. Shirley McLaine in Chance's bedroom is one of the funniest scenes ever. To the medical orderly, because he's Black, "Do you know Raphael?"

Other characters who remind - simple, naive, at the mercy of life..
Navin Johnson in The Jerk. "He hates cans!!!"
Jefferson Smith in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Tim Blake Nelson as Delmar O'Donnel in Oh Brother Where Art Though.

[3dender]

idk I don't think any movie is really like Forrest Gump because no movie had its point be so principally just the main character having interesting and famous stuff happen to him... it's a unique movie like that.

[MikoTython]

Well, here's what AI has to say on the matter :

Understanding the Naif in Fiction
Definition of a Naif

A naif is a type of unreliable narrator characterized by their innocence or lack of experience. This narrator often presents a skewed version of events due to their limited understanding of the world around them. Their perspective can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of situations.
Characteristics of Naif Narrators

Inexperience: Naifs are often young or naive characters who lack the life experience needed to accurately interpret events.

Blissful Ignorance: They may be unaware of the complexities of the situations they find themselves in, leading to a simplistic or distorted view of reality.

Manipulation: Sometimes, naifs are manipulated by other characters, which further clouds their judgment and reliability.

Examples of Naif Narrators

Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: As a child, Scout narrates her experiences without fully grasping the racial tensions in her community.

Forrest Gump from Forrest Gump: His simple-minded nature allows him to navigate complex historical events without understanding their significance.

Purpose of Using a Naif

The use of a naif narrator can create tension and intrigue in a story. Readers may find themselves questioning the reliability of the narrator, which can lead to deeper engagement with the text. This technique encourages readers to explore themes of perception, truth, and the nature of reality in fiction.

[3dender]

Well, here's what AI has to say on the matter :

Understanding the Naif in Fiction
Definition of a Naif

A naif is a type of unreliable narrator characterized by their innocence or lack of experience. This narrator often presents a skewed version of events due to their limited understanding of the world around them. Their perspective can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of situations.
Characteristics of Naif Narrators

Inexperience: Naifs are often young or naive characters who lack the life experience needed to accurately interpret events.

Blissful Ignorance: They may be unaware of the complexities of the situations they find themselves in, leading to a simplistic or distorted view of reality.

Manipulation: Sometimes, naifs are manipulated by other characters, which further clouds their judgment and reliability.

Examples of Naif Narrators

Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: As a child, Scout narrates her experiences without fully grasping the racial tensions in her community.

Forrest Gump from Forrest Gump: His simple-minded nature allows him to navigate complex historical events without understanding their significance.

Purpose of Using a Naif

The use of a naif narrator can create tension and intrigue in a story. Readers may find themselves questioning the reliability of the narrator, which can lead to deeper engagement with the text. This technique encourages readers to explore themes of perception, truth, and the nature of reality in fiction.

Nobody should gaf what AI has to say about anything. Do your own Google search ffs.

[MikoTython]

Well, here's what AI has to say on the matter :

Understanding the Naif in Fiction
Definition of a Naif

A naif is a type of unreliable narrator characterized by their innocence or lack of experience. This narrator often presents a skewed version of events due to their limited understanding of the world around them. Their perspective can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of situations.
Characteristics of Naif Narrators

Inexperience: Naifs are often young or naive characters who lack the life experience needed to accurately interpret events.

Blissful Ignorance: They may be unaware of the complexities of the situations they find themselves in, leading to a simplistic or distorted view of reality.

Manipulation: Sometimes, naifs are manipulated by other characters, which further clouds their judgment and reliability.

Examples of Naif Narrators

Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: As a child, Scout narrates her experiences without fully grasping the racial tensions in her community.

Forrest Gump from Forrest Gump: His simple-minded nature allows him to navigate complex historical events without understanding their significance.

Purpose of Using a Naif

The use of a naif narrator can create tension and intrigue in a story. Readers may find themselves questioning the reliability of the narrator, which can lead to deeper engagement with the text. This technique encourages readers to explore themes of perception, truth, and the nature of reality in fiction.

Nobody should gaf what AI has to say about anything. Do your own Google search ffs.

Whatever. I love ChatGPT, it’s the next evolution of a search engine. Nothing amiss in that content, either. I knew enough to ask the precise question apropos to this discussion. Another example could be The Idiot’ by Dostoyevsky.

[Arvid Smeal]

Forrest Gump sucks. Boomer stroking at it's worst.

[Backesdraft]

Forrest Gump sucks. Boomer stroking at it's worst.

Do you not like the movie because of the movie itself (i.e., do you find it boring, too long, etc.) or do you honestly say a movie sucks because it’s “boomer stroking”?

So you think the filmmakers got together with Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise and all the other folks involved with making a movie with the goal of not making a good entertaining movie but of simply stroking the boomers?

Let me guess, you still haven’t gotten over the fact that it beat out Shawshank and Pulp Fiction for best picture.

[thegibby.]

'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'

[SRV1990]

Well, here's what AI has to say on the matter :

Understanding the Naif in Fiction
Definition of a Naif

A naif is a type of unreliable narrator characterized by their innocence or lack of experience. This narrator often presents a skewed version of events due to their limited understanding of the world around them. Their perspective can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of situations.
Characteristics of Naif Narrators

Inexperience: Naifs are often young or naive characters who lack the life experience needed to accurately interpret events.

Blissful Ignorance: They may be unaware of the complexities of the situations they find themselves in, leading to a simplistic or distorted view of reality.

Manipulation: Sometimes, naifs are manipulated by other characters, which further clouds their judgment and reliability.

Examples of Naif Narrators

Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: As a child, Scout narrates her experiences without fully grasping the racial tensions in her community.

Forrest Gump from Forrest Gump: His simple-minded nature allows him to navigate complex historical events without understanding their significance.

Purpose of Using a Naif

The use of a naif narrator can create tension and intrigue in a story. Readers may find themselves questioning the reliability of the narrator, which can lead to deeper engagement with the text. This technique encourages readers to explore themes of perception, truth, and the nature of reality in fiction.

Nobody should gaf what AI has to say about anything. Do your own Google search ffs.

Whatever. I love ChatGPT, it’s the next evolution of a search engine. Nothing amiss in that content, either. I knew enough to ask the precise question apropos to this discussion. Another example could be The Idiot’ by Dostoyevsky.

Or "Demented"!

[Bighorn66]

Mr. Magoo.

[MikoTython]

Candide

[The Nard]

Candide

Indeed.

Professor Pangloss approves.

I saw a performance of this play on PBS, from the Kennedy Center, and with that gorgeous score by Leonard Bernstein. Wonder why it was never filmed, at least in the US (possibly the French made ones?).”

[MikoTython]

Candide

Indeed.

Professor Pangloss approves.

I saw a performance of this play on PBS, from the Kennedy Center, and with that gorgeous score by Leonard Bernstein. Wonder why it was never filmed, at least in the US (possibly the French made ones?).”

He was the best of all possible professors.