The Pursuit of Happyness
Summary
Although criticisms of the film ’s sentimentalisation of the American Dream remain valid , Will Smith ’s 2006 biopic dramaThe Pursuit of Happynesstakes on a unlike meaning when understood as an unofficial remake of Vittorio de Sica ’s classic , Bicycle thief . The film ’s depiction of poverty , its bond to San Francisco history , and its focus on a Father of the Church - son relationship all verbalise to thetraditions of Italian Neorealism . This postwar film motility saw Italian movie maker shun studio apartment criterion for a visual esthetical and life philosophy that well ruminate Italy ’s realness under economic duress . Smith’sThe Pursuit of Happynessspeaks to similar themes .
Bicycle Thievesis available to stream on Max .
Vittorio de Sica’sBicycle thief , often considered one of the originative work of Italian Neorealism and one ofthe best movies of all time , seldom receives the criticism openly levied againstThe Pursuit of Happyness . Through its genuine dedication to realism , Bicycle Thieveselevates the cinematic medium as an aspect of the human conditionrather than an avenue for entertainment . On the other hired hand , the Will Smith - starring film adaptation of Chris Gardner ’s memoir is condemn as pro - capitalist Oscar lure . compare these two films , however , highlight how Hollywood utilizes outside celluloid as a optical aesthetic without always contemplate the philosophical intentions .
Starring Wil Smith , The Pursuit of Happyness is the worked up journeying of a single father , but is The Pursuit of Happyness establish on a dependable story ?
The Pursuit of Happyness Is Basically The American Version Of Bicycle Thieves
How Will Smith & Hollywood Reimagine Italian Neorealism
BothBicycle ThievesandThe Pursuit of Happynessposition capitalism as an exploitive system angled against the desire of the someone . track character Antonio Ricci and Chris Gardner brook loneliness and closing off when seeking to better their economical view , frequently taking hazard and attain sacrifices with the promise of receive chore security . With young sons joining them on their daily outings , the force per unit area of fatherhood are heavily present in these two films . Ricci ’s and Gardner ’s economical pursuits also materially certify into symbolisation of contemporaneousness , with Ricci desperately searching for his stolen motorcycle and Gardner dire to discover his stolen scanner .
The Pursuit of Happynessalso aligns with Italian Neorealism ’s acuate awareness of local history . Films likeRocco and His BrothersandRome , Open Cityforefront the effect of World War II as the underlying conditions of the story creation , another define aspect of how Italian Neorealism replicates world . InThe Pursuit of Happyness , relics of San Francisco ’s counterculture chronicle are set up as antagonists to Chris Gardner ’s pastime . Erle Stanley Gardner ’s story also foreshadows the effects of the net gold rush on the metropolis , as his ambitions to become a stockbroker mime the corporatization and suburbanization of the Bay Area .
The Pursuit of Happynesswas direct by Italian film producer Gabriele Muccino .
How The Pursuit of Happyness Differs From Bicycle Thieves
Redefining This Will Smith-Vehicle Doesn’t Remove The Hollywood Veneer
Despite pay court to the legacy of Italian Neorealism , Will Smith’sThe Pursuit of Happynesscannot hold out the dramatic stylizations of Hollywood filmmaking . When compared to the base realism inBicycle Thieves , the scene between Will Smith and Thandiwe Newton seem overdramatized and stylized . Smith ’s monologs conduct at his movie Word / real - life sentence son start to sense preachy and theatrical . The master difference between these two film can be find in the ways each story chooses to shut down , whereBicycle Thievessettles on acceptance and appreciation , whileThe Pursuit of Happynesspromises success and overcome plight .
The thematic differences betweenBicycle ThievesandThe Pursuit of Happynessultimately spotlight a fundamental difference in the way each film producer views impoverishment .
These differences reflect a general dispute in home identity , where each film , either consciously or subconsciously , convey themes and narratives that aline with their respective state ’s history . After WWII , Italy ’s economic strife resulted in feelings of treason and forlornness , both warm gist themes found inBicycle stealer . Similarly , The Pursuit of Happynessreflects American sensibilities by emphasizing notions of valiancy within the American Dream fantasy . The thematic difference betweenBicycle ThievesandThe Pursuit of Happynessultimately spotlight a profound difference in the way each movie maker views poverty .
The Pursuit of Happyness is a drama film based on the life of Chris Gardner, a salesman who chronicled the year he spent his life homeless. Looking to reverse his fortunes and do what’s best for himself and his son, Gardner pursues an unpaid internship that strains his marriage and forces him to struggle against harrowing odds.
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The Pursuit of Happyness is a drama film based on the life of Chris Gardner , a salesman who chronicled the year he spent his life homeless . Looking to annul his lot and do what ’s good for himself and his son , Gardner pursues an unpaid internship that strains his marriage and force him to struggle against harrowing betting odds .
