This story narrates about a 16-year-old black American teenager, Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown), an intellectually gifted student who excels in both sports and academic. This earns him a scholarship to a highly selective private school. He befriends a reclusive writer, Mr. Forrester (Sean Connery), who was once a Pulitzer Winner and later becomes Jamal’s “tutor” to refine his natural talent for writing. However, due to his intelligence and excellence in writing, Jamal clashes with his arrogant literature teacher, Professor Robert Crawford (F. Murray Abraham), who gives him hard times by accusing him for plagiarism. Luckily, Jamal is saved by Mr. Forrester, who willing to reveal his identity in the public and clear Jamal’s name.
As boring as it might seem, this movie (like most stories) did enlighten us with some moral values and teaching implications, especially in the teaching of writing skills. Among the teaching implications that could be found in the movie are as follow:
1. Never hesitate or think too much in writing. Just write!
Jamal: Be sure to write.
Forrester: No thinking - that comes later. You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is... to write, not to think!
Note: Well, that explains why the writing of my project paper goes nowhere until today. I question and think too much.
2. Do not feel intimidated when your students are cleverer or more knowledgeable. Acknowledge their intelligence and learn from them.
Prof. Robert Crawford: Perhaps the challenge should have been directed elsewhere. "It is a melancholy truth that even...
Jamal: "great men have poor relations" Dickens.
Prof. Robert Crawford: "You will hear the beat of..."
Jamal: Kipling.
Prof. Robert Crawford: "All great truths begin..."
Jamal: Shaw.
Prof. Robert Crawford: "Man is the only animal...
Jamal: "that blushes... or needs to." That's Mark Twain.
Jamal: Come on, Professor Crawford...
Prof. Robert Crawford: [shouting] Get out!
Prof. Robert Crawford: [whispered] Get... out.
Jamal: Yeah. I'll get out.
3. Admit your mistakes and upgrade yourself, when students correct you.
Prof. Robert Crawford: [to Jamal] Perhaps your skills do reach farther than basketball.
Jamal: "Further"
Prof. Robert Crawford: What?
Claire Spence: [whispered to Jamal] Don't...
Jamal: [to Crawford] You said that my skills reached "farther" than basketball. "Farther" relates to distance, "further" is a definition of degree. You should have said "further".
Prof. Robert Crawford: Are you challenging me, Mr. Wallace?
Jamal: Not any more than you challenged Coleridge.
However, I have to admit that all these teaching implications and moral values that were mentioned above are easier said than done.
Of course it is! Teaching is romanticised greatly in movies. Even the problems created to add to the richness of the plot is somewhat detached with the students in the Malaysian context.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, there are lessons to be learned everywhere. As you said, respect has to go both ways. So is the appreciating of students.
Although, my focus on the movie was more of the writers' perspective rather than the implications on teaching.
Reclusive writer and reluctant scholar bring out the best in each other...
ReplyDelete"Finding Forrester" is an interesting title, because it could simply mean the outside world re-discovering writer William Forrester (Sean Connery) after almost a half-century of reclusive living under an assumed name. However to me it contains a deeper meaning, of Forrester finding himself, and getting on with a life he had put on hold for so many years. I believe that it should be a moving film experience for anyone who values family and deep personal relationships.
The premise is simple and familiar, to say the least, but it's acted with conviction and always involving with some poignant messages about friendship, as well as the pursuit and discovery of a true life's dream. More profane than it needs to be, but overall a thoughtful and in-depth drama with newcomer Brown making a formidable on-screen presence for old pro Connery. =)