The Value of Friendship -Why is Jamal and Forrester's friendship significant in the film?

1.       The Value of Friendship- Why is Jamal and Forrester’s friendship Significant in the film?

Jamal is a black guy who was living in Bronx. He is 16 years old and he really likes playing basketball and writing. However he suffered because of poverty and racial discrimination. His circumstances blocked his talent in writing. For example, Robert Crawford suspected Jamal’s Essay. He insisted that “He is a black guy from Bronx so I don’t believe that he wrote like this good Essay” We could know that he confronted a lot of discrimination during his life and it might hurt his mind a lot. Therefore, he could be daunted and give up his dream. However, when he met Forrester, everything was changed. Forrester identified Jamal’s talent and possibility.  He helped Jamal to improve his talent. Before they met, Jamal thought Forrester is murder or ghost because Forrester has never came out from his home. However, Jamal could open his mind and be a real friend with Forrester by feeling Forrester’s sincere mind to help him and pure desire in writing. As a result, Jamal could develop his writing and grow his passion in writing by being a friend with Forrester. Forrester also got a lot of help from Jamal. He couldn’t get out from his door because of fear. He had a sad past which was related with his family. Therefore, Forrester blocked his mind and hid in his own world. After he met Jamal, he could feel Jamal’s hard circumstances and his passion in writing. When Jamal went out with Forrester and gave a birthday present (showed him a baseball field) to him, Forrester was moved and he could tell about his past which made him hiding from the world. Forrester also recovered his fear because of Jamal. They were opening their minds over time by being a friend for each other. Their friendship helped them to recover their hard situations. They supplemented one another’s flaws and shortcomings so they could develop together.                                    Therefore, their friendship is significant in this film. I experienced similar situation like them. My best friend who is living in Korea help me a lot whenever I’m suffered from hard things such as school score, homesickness, hard living, depression. I also encourage her and help her to be a brave person. We have different personalities. She is calm and introversive person and I’m an outgoing person so we could advice and supplement each other. Meeting a good person and being a real friend is not only important in this film but also in our lives

2.       I like the scene that Forrester and Jamal were in the baseball field. I think this scene is really crucial for Jamal and Forrester to get closer. Forrester was impressed about Jamal’s present which was showing empty baseball field to him. This situation made Forrester to open his mind and confess about his hard past. He has never told about his story to others because he thought anyone can understand him and it is really hard to tell. However, he touched his heart by seeing Jamal’s genuine affection and his pure passion in writing. I also felt sympathy by listening about Forrester’s past and I could understand why he was blocked his mind from the outside. Forrester must be thankful to meet Jamal who gave a lot of affection and love to him. I could feel a real friendship between them even they are not relative.

3. While he was reading the Essay “Losing family” which Jamal wrote, he said “ Most of your to young to know what  your wishes will be. But when I read these words hopes, dreams. I realized the one wishes that was granted to me so late in life whose the gift from friend. A friendship. ….. I spoke here today because a friend of mine wasn’t allowed to. A friend who had integrity to protect me when I was unwilling to protect him. His name is Jamal. I helped him to find vision work by starting some of mine and then return. He promised never to say anything to anybody about me the promise which he kept.”