This is the first film I have seen with Sean Connery BUT NO SEX! No bedroom scenes, not even in flashback, no unhealthy suggestions, just a clean, highly interesting film for the Intelligentsia providing the necessary mental stimulation.
Two talented writers bond together in a thicker-than-blood relationship bridging all differences of age, race, background, status....with JUST one weapon, the power of the pen. The latent, powerful talent lying hidden in a teenaged, football playing lad is accidentally uncovered by a Pulitzer Prize winner ....and the friendship flowers.
Finding Forrester is a simple film with a great story of a lofty relationship between an aged writer and a sixteen year old ’black’ boy. The writer is a one time Pulitzer award winner, living a life of a recluse, lonely, sad, hiding his true identity behind a false name and the boy is an impish football playing teenager BUT with a penchant for writing.
It all begins , when one day the boy trespasses into the writer’s apartment out of curiosity and flees on accosting him, leaving behind his bag full of books. The bag is returned, but with all the writings read, corrected and remarked by the writer. This intrigues the boy who is so inflamed as to keep visiting the writer and get encouragement and direction to his life which is missing in his humble Bronx existence. The writer becomes his mentor, teacher and finally, friend. In fact the boy unconsciously looks upon him as a father figure, sadly missing in his life.
The result? The 25 year long, self inflicted recluse realises there is life outside his lonely dark apartment. In his own confession to the boy, he once admits ’’Of course I do go out! How do you think the windows get cleaned?’’ He enjoys the boy’s visits and wholeheartedly encourages and trains him in his writing, and takes keen interest in the boy’s literary success and football skill at high school. In return, the boy has to promise never to divulge the writer’s secret life. He unwittingly thinks of the boy as his family whom he longs to be with. There is this very touching scene when the boy takes him to the football ground on the latter’s birthday, and the old writer recalls a similar incident in the past with his brother ....with tears in his eyes....
Sean Connery has played the lonely but proud recluse with a kind heart, to perfection. The conversations or arguments between the two in the initial adjustment stage of their relationship, are memorable. Sean Connery is simply superb in a very difficult and challenging role which stands out, absolutely true to life. Sean fits into the role so naturally. His final unexpected appearance in the school and the quaint speech in which he extolls his little friends literary prowess and absolute loyalty in front of the students and faculty, is unforgettable. It will make you sit at the edge of your seats just to listen to what he has to say (a 25 year long silence broken)... and to watch his every move, his breath, his pause... his pain. ’’At the end of my life, I have found a friend...’’
You could call the end of the film the ’’climax’’ of their relationship. Why does he decide to come out in the open and say the words ’’I am...’’ pointing to a picture of himself on the wall opposite ? Why the distress, the relief ? You should see the film to know.
I would say SEAN CONNERY has made Mr. Forrester memorable.