Compelling drama inspired by true story

Rating: 9/10 (1 September 2007)

The Pursuit of Happiness is the rags to riches story of a struggling father and his five-year-old son. The story begins in downtown San Francisco in 1981. Smith plays a brow-beaten salesman, desperately trying to sell bone-density machines to doctors and hospitals. With an uncertain income and mounting bills, the financial pressures soon become unbearable.
Forced to move from his apartment with his son, in search of accommodation, the peripatetic Smith seeks any place to call home. The story tracks the heartache and misery of an exceptionally determined father. With no certainty about where he is headed and a disinterested wife, he must find a way to rise above his poverty. As luck would have it, he applies as an intern at a financial brokerage firm. With no tertiary education and only a dream to guide him, he musters the courage of his convictions to stick it out for six months of unpaid employment.
This heart wrenching tale hits home with startling realism. This is a true hero's tale, if ever there was one. The moments of emotional agony; fear and yearning are as palpable as they are in real life. One cannot but help commiserate with the characters. This is an exceptional film in every respect of the word. Smith is simply a phenomenal actor, skilled in the art of comedy, action and drama.