The film Forrest Gump has hints of existentialism. The story of Forrest Gump proves that human life is not predetermined. The film shows three existential principles: religion, ethics and the nature of reality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Existentialism is the existence of an individual as a free and responsible person who determines his own development through actions of the will. The concept of religion is the main topic of this film. Forrest and his mother are both religious. Forrest's mom believed that God could help them overcome any situation, no matter how big it was. For example, Forrest says Mom says we don't have to go to church to meet God because God is always with us, even when he was in Vietnam. His mother believed that God was always with Forrest and would help him in every situation he faced. The meaning of having a religion and believing that God can do anything for you was a concept repeated in the film. Existentialism says that you have to do things for yourself and not base the decisions and choices you make for yourself on other people and society. Forrest never waited to do, he did what he thought was right and based on what he wanted to do. He simply did what he thought was best for him. For example, this would be Forrest starting the company called Bubba Gump Shrimp. Although Forrest and Bubba had decided that they wanted to start this company, Forrest continued the company in his honor after Bubba's death and went against the advice of the lieutenant, Dan. Forrest, while in Vietnam actually tried to save Bubba and all the other people with him and he did it going against orders because he felt it was right for him to do it and as a child he was bullied for his leg braces, but in return the bullying had taught him to run. From then on Forrest joined the football team and ran cross-country many times. He didn't care about the opinions, judgments and choices of others, he simply did what he thought was right for him at that moment. Ethics are rules set by society and there is a line between Forrest's ethics and those moral responsibilities he has. A great example is when Forrest finds out that Jenny had his son named Forrest Jr. and soon Forrest learns that Jenny has contracted HIV and decides that they need to come live with him so he can be a good father and take care of Jenny . . When Forrest found out he was able to care for his son. Society expects parents to take care of their children. If he had decided not to take care of his son, society would have been disappointed in him. Even if he didn't want to take care of his son, at that moment it was an ethical responsibility to be the father figure. Morality is the set of right and wrong rules established by oneself and people. Forrest never questioned what was right and wrong because he simply did what he thought was best for him at the time. Forrest Gump lives in a materialistic reality. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Materialism is the belief that everything, including the soul of things, is made of a material. The example would be for Forrest, the task he had at the time was all he cared about and an example of Forrest's materialism is when he would go to his mother and Jenny's grave and talk to them as if they were still there physically and spiritually. He believed that his mother and Jenny's souls were like objects and something that could be interacted with. I realized that.