Watching The Pursuit of Happyness (links: DVD at Amazon, book at Amazon), the thing that strikes me the most is that it is a story of the perseverance of the human spirit against incredibly difficult situations.

The story is about a man named Christopher Gardner, a man who grew up without a father, and vowed not to let his son grow up without a father. For me, the movie is about 98% beat-down, a little like the Rocky movie series, where the main character just keeps getting hit with one thing after another after another. Every time you think it can't get worse, it does. But Mr. Gardner's love for his son gives him the strength and energy that makes most lives look incredibly pale in comparison.

In the end the movie leaves me feeling how easy my life has been. It's one of those movies that leaves you feeling that you can make a small difference in the world by doing something to help your fellow man, especially when you know that person has put out the effort that Mr. Gardner puts out just to survive.

As mentioned, I look at it as a story about hustle, effort, perseverance, and the opportunities that are created by all that effort.

Interesting parts about the movie is that it takes place during the Reagan administration, the Rubik's Cube plays an important role, and the title comes from the phrase "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."