Jamal's Relationship In 'Finding Forrester'

Why is caring so important? In the movie “Finding Forrester”, Jamal and his friends wonder why “The Window,” a figure they refer to watches them when they play basketball. Jamal’s friends dare him to sneak into The Window’s apartment. He has to prove to his friends that he did the dare by taking something from the apartment. The next day, Jamal realizes that he does not have his backpack Later on, Jamal’s bag is thrown from the window of the apartment that he broke into. His books were written all over, as if The Window had edited his work. Jamal moves to a new school where he is recognized for both his academics and his athleticism. Soon, Jamal builds a relationship with The Window. As he starts attending a new school, Jamal realizes that

he needs help with his writings. Jamal finds out the real identity of who The Window is and his real identity is William Forrester, whom had written a book that Jamal’s friend Claire was reading. The two help each other out, Forrester helps Jamal with his writing and Jamal helps Forrester bring himself back into the real world. Jamal’s english teacher, Mr Crawford was hard on Jamal and questioned his writing. The writing could cause Jamal to be either kicked out of school or not punished at all. If Jamal helps his team win the championship basketball game, then he would not be kicked out of his prep school, Mailor Crawford. It left Jamal broken, until Mr. Forrester came to save Jamal from grief and read something Jamal wrote from his heart. For one to care, they need to change their perspective for the better of the outcome.
When people do not care, there is no point trying because the outcome could affect that. Jamal writes a five hundred word essay on why Forrester does not like him and leaves it at the door of the Window’s apartment. Jamal is showing The Window he cares enough because he is curious about him and wants help with his writing. According to Clinton (2001), “After all, Forrester had been one of the few people to take time to look at his work and consider his writing seriously.” William Forrester comes to Jamal’s prep school and reads the students a letter which Jamal wrote. Forrester is standing up for Jamal because he cares about him and wants to let Crawford know that Jamal is a great and intelligent writer. According to Movie Locity (2001) “Compelled to look past skin color and suppositions,...”. There is a value in trying your hardest because there is always someone looking out for you.
In difficult times, one needs to know there is support in order to change one’s perspective and actions. Jamal is attending a new school - a prep school - in a nicer part of town that is very different from his old school. People see Jamal’s potential and what that could do for himself in the future. According to Levy (2000) “.... seeks Forrester’s help in dealing with the new environment”. After Jamal receives his backpack back from the Window, Jamal goes home and reads what Forrester wrote. According to Holden (2001), “Opening it, Jamal finds his notebook filled with corrections and editorial comments”. Jamal goes back to the apartment, and asks Forrester to continue writing, because he aspires to achieve in life.
Changing our perspective can help us to care more about something. The characters in Finding Forrester help each other out by caring for one another. In hardships we should never give up because there is always someone there who can see our struggles and is willing to help us overcome our failures. Jamal built a relationship with Forrester. Crawford never took time to see Jamal’s potential like Forrester did. Caring is important because it can help, not only the other person out but ourselves as well.