An important character who changes in "Finding Forrester" is William Forrester.
At the start of the film Forrester is portrayed as a hostile, abusive recluse who hides himself away in his apartment. He is traumatised from the death of his brother years before and isolates himself to prevent forming emotional relationships with anyone. He is a famous writer whom many people believe to be dead. He grudgingly agrees to tutor Jamal Wallace in exhange for him keeping his identity a secret. At the start of the film this relationship is strictly teacher student.
By the end of the film Forrester has changed considerably. He leaves his apartment to help clear Jamal's name in the plagiarism accusation, no longer goes out in disguise and even writes another book. He also leaves New York entirely to visit family in Scotland.
Techniques which show change:
Costume
Dialogue
Eye-level shot
Close-up
Extreme close-up
COSTUME
At the start of the film Forrester always covers himself up. He wears a hat, dark glasses and long coats to hide himself when he goes to the Yankee game with Jamal. At the end of the film he leaves the apartment on his own without any disguise at all. He is no longer afraid to be recognised.
DIALOGUE
At the start of the film Forrester's dialogue is very hostile. He swears at Jamal and at anyone who bothers him. At the end however he is much more friendly, even to the extent of calling Jamal his friend. He also jokes with Jamal showing how much their relationship has progressed and attempts hood slang. Previously he told Jamal off for not speaking proper english. In a voiceover from the ending scene Forrester also tells Jamal (in a letter) that he would have waited too long to achieve his dreams if he had not met him. This also shows how much he has come to value Jamal's friendship.
"this was written by my friend, Jamal Wallace"
"Your the man now dog"
"I would have waited too long had it not been for you"
EYE-LEVEL SHOT
Forrester was always shot from a low angle at the start of the film to make him seem scary and threatening. In the opening scenes the viewer is also shown only parts of his face as he is shot using extreme close-ups. For example looking through the peep hole at Jamal. This also reinforced his untrusting and secretive nature at this point in the film. Towards the end of the film however Forrester is shot using eye-level shots when he is with Jamal. This shows that they are now on an equal level rather than Forrester being the one in control. He has become a friend rather than a teacher.
CLOSE-UP
A close-up is used in the ending scene showing Jamal wiping away dust from the window. He cannot see out as soo much dust has settled on it. Forrester previous was neurotic at keeping the window sparkling clean. This helps show that Forrester has been absent from the apartment for a long period. This contrasts to the start of the film where he rarely if ever left the apartment, let alone the Bronx.
EXTREME CLOSE-UP
An extreme close-up is used at the end of the film of the manuscript Forrester had written before he left New York. The novel is entitled "Sunsets" and the extreme close-up shows the words underneath which state:
"foreword to be written by Jamal Wallace".
This shows that Forrester has learnt to trust again. Especially since the last person who wrote anything about Forrester was Professor Crawford and Forrester preventing the book from being published. It also shows how important his relationship with Jamal has become and how highly he regards his skill as a writer.
Why is this change important?
This change in Forrester's character is important as it helps show a main theme of the film which is the importance of friendship. Had it not been for Jamal, Forrester would have remained locked in his apartment, hostile, unhappy and angry at the world. He would never have written another book or got to see his family before he died.
An important character who changes in "Finding Forrester" is William Forrester.
At the start of the film Forrester is portrayed as a hostile, abusive recluse who hides himself away in his apartment. He is traumatised from the death of his brother years before and isolates himself to prevent forming emotional relationships with anyone. He is a famous writer whom many people believe to be dead. He grudgingly agrees to tutor Jamal Wallace in exhange for him keeping his identity a secret. At the start of the film this relationship is strictly teacher student.
By the end of the film Forrester has changed considerably. He leaves his apartment to help clear Jamal's name in the plagiarism accusation, no longer goes out in disguise and even writes another book. He also leaves New York entirely to visit family in Scotland.
Techniques which show change:
COSTUME
At the start of the film Forrester always covers himself up. He wears a hat, dark glasses and long coats to hide himself when he goes to the Yankee game with Jamal. At the end of the film he leaves the apartment on his own without any disguise at all. He is no longer afraid to be recognised.
DIALOGUE
At the start of the film Forrester's dialogue is very hostile. He swears at Jamal and at anyone who bothers him. At the end however he is much more friendly, even to the extent of calling Jamal his friend. He also jokes with Jamal showing how much their relationship has progressed and attempts hood slang. Previously he told Jamal off for not speaking proper english. In a voiceover from the ending scene Forrester also tells Jamal (in a letter) that he would have waited too long to achieve his dreams if he had not met him. This also shows how much he has come to value Jamal's friendship.
EYE-LEVEL SHOT
Forrester was always shot from a low angle at the start of the film to make him seem scary and threatening. In the opening scenes the viewer is also shown only parts of his face as he is shot using extreme close-ups. For example looking through the peep hole at Jamal. This also reinforced his untrusting and secretive nature at this point in the film. Towards the end of the film however Forrester is shot using eye-level shots when he is with Jamal. This shows that they are now on an equal level rather than Forrester being the one in control. He has become a friend rather than a teacher.
CLOSE-UP
A close-up is used in the ending scene showing Jamal wiping away dust from the window. He cannot see out as soo much dust has settled on it. Forrester previous was neurotic at keeping the window sparkling clean. This helps show that Forrester has been absent from the apartment for a long period. This contrasts to the start of the film where he rarely if ever left the apartment, let alone the Bronx.
EXTREME CLOSE-UP
An extreme close-up is used at the end of the film of the manuscript Forrester had written before he left New York. The novel is entitled "Sunsets" and the extreme close-up shows the words underneath which state:
This shows that Forrester has learnt to trust again. Especially since the last person who wrote anything about Forrester was Professor Crawford and Forrester preventing the book from being published. It also shows how important his relationship with Jamal has become and how highly he regards his skill as a writer.
Why is this change important?
This change in Forrester's character is important as it helps show a main theme of the film which is the importance of friendship. Had it not been for Jamal, Forrester would have remained locked in his apartment, hostile, unhappy and angry at the world. He would never have written another book or got to see his family before he died.