Forrest Gump: Scene Analysis

This scene, in which Forrest visits Jenny's grave, is arguably the most impactful and emotional scene of the whole movie. The way such a scene is created can either make or break a movie, and in this case, a great job was done. The cinematography, editing and storytelling all contributed to this scene.

First of all, the cinematography. The use of over the shoulder shots when Forrest is talking to Jenny (both dead and alive) really personalises what he's saying — it kind of makes you feel like you're Jenny, even when she's dead. This also makes it much more emotional when Forrest starts crying. The last wide shot of Forrest walking away from Jenny's grave helps the audience feel at peace after Forrest's beautiful speech.

Another important element that contributed to this scene would be the editing. The cuts are slow, which made it easier for the audience to digest what Forrest was saying, slowly chewing the emotion instead of guzzling it down. If the shots had been too fast-paced, it would easily distract the audience from the meaningful things that Forrest is saying, which really is the focus of this scene.

Last but not least is the storytelling. There is no music when Forrest first starts talking to Jenny, but as he begins to unravel the story of the stars in Vietnam, a tranquil, zen kind of music starts up. This really helps emphasise how beautiful the scenery was. However, when he's talking to Jenny in her grave, ambient noise takes over. While music can contribute to a scene, a lack of it can contribute too. The fact that the only distinguishable noise was that of Forrest's voice really let the audience focus on what he was saying (ie you wouldn't get distracted by a song you know that might be played in the background).

Tom Hanks' acting was also a part in this scene, albeit a comparatively small one. The way he acted and spoke added a level of reality that didn't distract the audience.

Overall, the cinematography, editing and storytelling techniques used helps the audience through this scene emotionally.