He said that his life was made up of the following parts: being stupid, running, internship, paying tax and finally, happiness. And happiness is only a small fraction.
He was almost a loser, for everyday he attempted to sell the “expensive and useless” scanners but most often in vain. His wife bear grudge again him for his incapability to materialize the happiness he ever promised.
His condition even deteriorated when his wife left him and his son behind. He couldn’t afford his room rent, he had to pay the penalty resulting from the car parking violation, he bumped into a chain of distressful accidents.
He swallowed all those bitter pills and decided to hurl the last hope upon the rare opportunity of being a stockbroker that was about to be selected from the pool of hundreds of candidates.
But it wasn’t a turning point at all. The internship lasted half a year without any salary. Even worse, he has got the huge account of tax to pay again which deprived him of all his deposits.
Life became harsher on them. He then moved out of the flat to the motel, then he was shut out of the motel with due rent unpaid, he had to queue for the free spot like the refugee early after work for he and his son’s accommodation. During such lucky nights that he won the bed-seats, he burned the mid-night oil to repair last scanner and absorb the knowledge on stock brokerage.
When he was penniless, he exchanged his blood for some scarce money to live on.
He was rewarded eventually with the job, the opportunity, and the appreciative remarks. After such survival, he could really do something as he often believed he can.
He was ever a wounded man and weather-beaten man who endured the loneliness, shrouded with the shadow of unhappiness, failed to achieve anything.
But he was indeed a protective and tearful father who set on fighting a path to the happiness for his son and his family. Even the frustrating experience torn him apart and invaded his faith, he remained firm in his love for his son and his passion for life.
Nothing can dampen his strong conviction in the pursuit of happiness. His unfailing paternal love brings the dignity back to him at his worst time and sows the seed of his success at the end.
Love, whichever form it embraces, could really take you further than anything else could do.
We should savor the bitter sweetness in the pursuit of happiness. Perhaps the pursuit is itself the source of your happiness. As the hackney saying goes, happiness is not a destination, but a journey. Perhaps that’s key message this movie tries to convey.
But, could I really embrace every such gloomy day with such attitude?
Will Smith is an excellent actor!!