Forrest Gump: Fact or Fiction? Essay Example

Forrest Gump: Fact or Fiction Forrest Gump is an American comedy-drama that premiered inF 1994 based off of the 1986 novel by Winston Groom. This film is a mirror of Vietnam with interpretations on political symbolism made by the protagonist. The life of Forrest Gump entails many years of this ordinary Alabama man who travels across the world influencing fashionable culture, meeting historical figures, and experienced historical events of the late twentieth century. Forrest Gump was not only North America’s top selling theatrical success of 1994, but it is also a film describing the terrors of Vietnam War that took place approximately around 1955 to 1975. In the 1950’s, the United States began to send troops to Vietnam creating the strongest tensions in the United States history with the Chinese and Russians that could potentially lead to a WWIII, but was thankfully called the Vietnam War. Facing a number of cultural differences between these two countries, it was difficult for the United States to portray South Vietnam as a hard working and fighting democracy. The United States President, Johnson, had recently replaced Kennedy after he was assassinated in Texas during 1963. Johnson was torn between the differing strategies the United States had for Vietnam and wanted to take our troops out of Vietnam but this would result in losing a war. Because Johnson was too concerned with his image, he did not run for a second term which leads to Nixon taking control later on. I believe neither side won or lost when America withdrew while signing the Paris Peace Accord. North Vietnam took over South Vietnam resulting in a communist region. The movie Forrest Gump does represent Vietnam precisely accurate with a few minor inaccurate accusations. Here are a few factual scenes from the movie: Little Rock Nine, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, the JFK Assassination, Abbie Hoffman visiting the University of Oklahoma protesting the war, Elvis Presley, Nathan Bedford