THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

US, 2007, 117 minutes, Colour.
Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandie Newton, Brian Howe, Dan Castellanata, Kurt Fuller.
Directed by Gabriele Muccino.

The title is one of the key phrases in American consciousness. This verbal icon from the Bill of Rights is considered a birthright by all Americans. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The spelling in the title here comes from a graffiti statement on the wall of a childcare centre where Chris Gardiner (Will Smith) takes his son (Jaden Smith, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett’s son) while he goes out to try to sell the stock of bone density machines he has imprudently bought. The wrong spelling irritates him because he admires Jefferson but wonders whether the intention was to emphasise the pursuit while acknowledging that achieving this happiness might be impossible.

For most of the film’s running time, the achievement does seem impossible and the pursuit is so physically, mentally and morally demanding that the temptation to give up seems entirely reasonable.

Chris Gardener, without benefit of college education, has set his sights on becoming a stock broker. He sees himself as good at figures and good with people. And, despite everything, he has a deep-seated confidence in his dream and in himself. And he has an overwhelming love for his son.

The person he is not good with is his wife, Linda (Thandie Newton). Or, he is good, but she can’t take the uncertainties, the financial pressures, the hard life. She leaves. Chris then has to pursue his unpaid internship as a broker, trying to sell the bone machines at weekends (with his son tagging along), working less time than his fellow interns because he has to go across town to collect his son and bring him home and feed him.

And then things really start to go wrong! A genial man, Chris is imposed on by the supervisor and by friends. Tax troubles, an overnight stint in gaol for parking ticket non-payments, traffic jams delaying appointments, eviction from home, queuing and struggling to get into night shelters, a night in a railway station men’s toilet for father and son.

Audiences feel the pain of father and son, the bewildered five year old who is supportive but who really does not understand, the father who wants only the best for his son and cannot provide the basics.

Yet, the film seems positive at the worst of hazards, primarily because Will Smith is such an engaging screen presence and communicates a positive outlook on life no matter what. Working with his own son, there is a wonderful chemistry between the two that makes what goes on credible and palatable.

The events are based on a true story, set in San Francisco in 1981. Interestingly, it was the year of the popularity of the Rubik Cube – which becomes a symbol of focus and perseverance as well as intelligence as Chris demonstrates he can solve the puzzle, to the amazement of a top broker, who gives Chris a chance to learn the trade.

So, it is, as they say, an inspirational story. With the pursuit of happiness and happyness, the tone is particularly American. It tends to presume that one can pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps no matter what. It urges the audience never to lose sight of their dreams and believe in them. It is more than a touch capitalist in its philosophy while focusing on real and heartfelt social difficulties.

The director is an Italian, Gabriele Muccino, who directed L’ Ultimo Baccio, which was turned into an American vehicle for Zach Braff with the title, The Last Kiss. Muccino brings a warmth to the difficult events that makes us want to share them with father and son.

1. A vehicle for Will Smith? The response of the Will Smith fans? The Declaration of Independence and the title, human rights, American rights, the emphasis on pursuit, achievement of happiness? The spelling of happiness?

2. Based on a true story, the information at the end? Inspirational film? Difficulties, overcoming difficulties, achieving dreams?

3. San Francisco in 1981, the poorer areas, the wealthier areas, the shelters for the poor, the affluent homes, the sports arenas, the buses and the streets? The business world?

4. The musical score, the songs, the lyrics? Echoing the period? The 80s atmosphere, the Rubik Cube – and the Rubik Cube becoming a symbol for achievement? X-ray machines?

5. The themes of fathers and sons, parenting, love between parents and children, issues of custody? The father and the mother? The mother walking out? Poverty, hard work? Exasperation? Linda and her being unable to be happy, her decision to go to New York, trusting that Chris would bring up Christopher well? Blame or not?

6. The portrait of Chris Gardner, Will Smith’s type, screen presence? His reference in the voice-over to the times of his life? With Christopher, depositing him at the day-care centre, his attempts to sell the x-ray machine, meeting the doctors, failure, his courtesy? His continually carrying the machine? Picking up Christopher? The issues of the rent, the bills? The flashbacks to his buying the machines and their being delivered and stored? Happier days? Linda, at work, working hard, the phone calls? Chris and his dreams? Linda spurning them? His wanting to be a broker, talking to the brokers? Going into the building? The encounter with Twistle? Getting into the taxi, the Rubik Cube, his ability to solve it? His painting the house, the deadline for the meeting, the bad luck? His going to jail, covered in paint, the parking fines and the previous scenes with his leaving his car? The interview, his soft talking, explanation of why he was dressed as such? His being accepted? The discovery that there was no salary during the apprentice times? His wanting to back out, his precarious position, Twistle wanting a decision?

7. Issues of money, debts, rent, the inability to sell the machines? His going out on weekends? Christopher accompanying him? The meeting with Walter Ribbon? His failure to meet the deadline, having to park the car for Frakesh, the traffic? His going to the house, meeting Ribbon? The discussions about the game, going to the box? His inability to persuade him about finances? His going home, wanting the fourteen dollars from his friend, demanding it?

8. Being ousted, everything at the door? Chris and Christopher going to the shelters, the queues, being late, having to stay the night in the toilet, imagining it was a dinosaur cave? The shelter and his fixing the machine overnight, his joy in selling the machine? The night at the hotel, the bed, watching television, asleep?

9. At work, the authority figures, Frakesh and his demands, saving face? His having less time, picking up Christopher? The day-care centre – and the clash with the manager, the children watching Bonanza and Love Boat? Travel, his losing the machine to the hippie girl, pursuing her and getting it back? The old man in the street, thinking it was a time machine, his losing it in the underground railway? Seeing him again, getting it back? His continually running and chasing people?

10. Frakesh, character, the lessons, the hard work, phone calls to clients, not hanging up but pressing the button? Having to do odd jobs? The people that he met in Ribbon’s box, the later contacts, getting clients? Using his initiative?

11. The build-up to the exam, wearing the shirt, his being asked for five dollars and his lending it? His being called in, his success, walking in the street, weeping, his joy with Christopher?

12. The information about his later achievements? American dreams, people pulling themselves up by their bootstrings? Hope and energy? American dreams fulfilled?