CLIP FILM THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS PRODUCTION: USA 2006 DIRECTOR: Gabriele Muccino STARRING: Will Smith (Christopher Gardner), Jaden Smith (Christopher), Thandie Newton (Linda), Brian Howe (Jay Twistle) SYNOPSIS The film is a tale inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman, who fights to survive through many difficulties. When his girlfriend Linda walks out, Chris is left to raise their 5-year-old son, Christopher, on his own. Chris s determination finally pays off when he finds himself working as an unpaid intern in a brutally competitive stockbroker training programme, where only one of the twenty interns will succeed. Without a salary, Chris has to leave his apartment and is forced to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of an underground station bathroom. With self-confidence and the love and trust of his son, Chris Gardner rises above the obstacles to become a Wall Street legend. BEFORE WATCHING 3 Discuss with a partner or in a small group. 1 What does the title of the film suggest? How do you interpret it? 2. The word happiness is spelt with a y in the title. Why? Make hypotheses. 4 Read the synopsis and answer the questions. 1. Who is the protagonist of the story? 2. Why does he live alone with his son? 3. What kind of job does he find? 4. What are the consequences of his unpaid job? 5. How does he manage to get out of a difficult period? 6. What job does he most probably do to become a legend? 260 DIffIcULtIES intern: stagista to pay off: ripagare, aver successo salesman: venditore, rappresentante self-confidence: fiducia in s stockbroker: agente di borsa to walk out: andarsene