The background of the film Forrest Gump, what major events have taken place in the United States during this period, and what is the theme of the film? What do the feathers at the beginning and end of the film symbolize? About the background, to be precise, it was the 1960s. The background is the "beat generation", because this generation is confused and doesn't like work and study. It seems that I have been struggling with the meaning of life all my life (I personally think). Representing the crowd is the so-called "hippies". They advocate freedom, extreme enjoyment and sexual liberation, but oppose war and demand concern for the environment. So you can hear Jenny in Playboy magazine. She sang Bob Dylan's Blowin' In The Wind naked in the bar (a very, very influential folk singer who made great contributions to rock and roll and was regarded as a representative of the civil rights movement in the 1960s). There is a lyric that says, "How many roads does a man have to walk before he can be called a man, my friend, the answer is in the wind", which also reflects something spiritual. Then Jenny resolutely left. Later, she came back from Vietnam War in Forrest Gump and met Jenny again in her speech. We can know that Jenny should go to San Francisco to "find an army". Jenny can hear the background music "San Francisco" when she introduces Forrest Gump to her friends. The lyrics say, "If you go to San Francisco, you must hold flowers", which marks a characteristic of hippies. They often wear flowers on their heads. It can be seen from Jenny's dress at that time, but the hippie dress style. Jenny later took Forrest Gump to their party, and we can see the social characteristics of these hippies. San Francisco, California, USA, was in the forefront when the pioneering spirit of hippies prevailed, because there were many universities there. So San Francisco became a gathering place for hippies at that time. They lived in groups, wrote poems, sang and wrote novels, discussed philosophy, smoked marijuana, sat naked and so on. Jenny has appeared in movies many times, and we can see the changes of the times from her, constantly reminding us where the times have come.

The big events mentioned in the film, the Vietnam War and the tragic experience of Forrest Gump's chief executive after the war were also serious social problems at that time. Later ping-pong diplomacy, Watergate incident, and (what else I forgot) all happened under this background. If you are interested in reading this era, you can find many contemporary songs that are very classic, and you can also look at Jack Kerouac's On the Road, which is already the most representative work.

I think the theme of the film is to record the rise and fall of a legendary era; There is also a silly image of Forrest Gump to tell people that the American dream will come true one day as long as you work hard. Above all, Americans' optimism, no matter what life gives you, should be enjoyed.

Mom's words are the most philosophical.

Hello, Forrest.

F: What's the matter, Monk?

M: I'm dying, Forrest. Come in and sit here.

F: Mom, why did you die?

This is my time, and this is only my time. Oh, don't be afraid, dear. Death is just a part of life. Somewhere everything is destined to be done. I don't know. But I am destined to be your mother. I did my best.

F: You did a good job, Mom.

I don't believe you can control your own destiny. You must do your best with what God has given you.

F: What is fate, Mom?

M: You have to figure it out yourself. Life is like a bar of chocolate, Forrest. You never know what you will get.