Finding Forrester
by: AddTravis Forfinski, Kodiak Community College, Alaska

Finding Forrester is about a 16-year-old basketball player from the Bronx named Jamal Wallace, and his newfound friendship with a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist William Forrester. Although Jamal is obviously a very talented basketball player, his secret love is writing. Though the movie both Jamal and William Forrester create a special bond with the help of there common interest.writing. As the movie plays both of them learn various lessons about life and maybe the most important of all-friendship.

The main educational themes are how some teachers assess their students' talents. For example, Jamal's professor could not look past him as a typical "Basketball Player." Therefore he would not believe the even a basketball player could have his talent at the age of 16. His Professor was simply afraid of what he didn't understand.

Another educational theme I picked out of this movie was the friendship between the student and the teacher. This sort of behavior is rarely encouraged, yet in stories like this I feel it make all of the difference. Having this "bond" between them gave both of them a push to try harder and to forge ahead at some of the toughest times in their lives. Now I realize that this relationship (although good) is impossible to achieve with every student and teacher. With that aside I also feel that it should not be looked at as wrong or inappropriate, yet to be encouraged in situations where it could better the education of an individual.

I give this movie an A+