The Pursuit of Parenthood

This brings me to why I chose this powerfully moving movie as the subject for this article. It really had nothing to do with all of the hype that the movie has received, or the popularity of the superstar actor who portrays this man’s life. To me, the real brilliance in telling this man’s story is the recognition of the insurmountable courage, faith, and tenacity displayed by a human being in his pursuit for a better life. This is a story which acknowledges the amazing love of a man who, as a young kid, vowed that his children would know who their father was. This story acknowledges his integrity in keeping that vow—despite the circumstances.

The strength exhibited by this man in persevering, and his continued confidence that he would achieve success (despite a life of hardship and emotional scarring) is what makes this movie worth the price of the ticket. The inspirational message that a hunger for learning and hard work, and a refusal to give up, can break destructive cycles and propel anyone to unlimited heights—no matter who they are, where they come from, or what their situation may be—is the real star of this show.

In my opinion, the movie masters both the uplifting inspiration and a more difficult task: plausibly diagramming every stage in the hero’s climb. As far as I’m concerned, Happyness is a big hit just by managing to be both a guy movie and a chick flick. But more significantly, it examines issues that aren’t explored often in film. In doing so, the film provides an opportunity for fathers and sons to take a brutal look at their respective roles and the responsibilities attached to these roles. Hopefully, both will gain respect for the parts they play in shaping and contributing to each other’s lives.