'Stand by Me' Essay

The film Stand by me is a story of boys hanging out and growing up and explores the rite of passage genre as it recounts the tale of the boys’ adventure and their transition from childhood to adolescence. The use of symbolism in the film helps the audience connect not only with each character in the film but also their own personal journey. The use of music, Colour and the use of the train and its tracks help the audience to understand that the film is more than just a story about an adventure but a journey of self-discovery and growth.
Throughout the movie, Rob Reiner uses symbolism to help the audience understand the story. Four boys’ that embark on a journey to find the missing body of a young boy. Symbolism represents an object or person which holds a significant meaning or character. Throughout the boys’ journey they pass by certain symbolic events which hold a special significance.
Throughout their journey the boys’ overcome difficult obstacles in order to find the missing body. Some of those obstacles include taking shortcuts across the train bridge and trekking through a river in order to save time. These obstacles symbolise the complications they are going to face later on in life. Throughout the movie the audience witness a couple flashbacks through the eyes of Gordie. All of the flashbacks are to do with Gordie’s old brother. What is especially particular about the flashbacks is the colour of the scene is blue. The director uses colour in this scene to outline Gordie’s emotion. Blue being depression meant that Gordie never took the time to mourn the loss of his brother. Mourning the loss of his brother was an important Rite of Passage for Gordie to triumph over.
Rites of passage, refers to the important events of our ultimate quest through life. They are the universal changes that can be as insignificant as a first kiss but with everlasting effects on our perspective of life. Stand by me has close ties to individual rites of passages that explore