WILL SMITH SUPPORTS THE AMERICAN DREAM

Will Smith portrays the life of Chris Gardner, a homeless person turned mogul in The Pursuit of Happyness.

Chris Gardner went from being homeless on the streets of San Francisco to owning a Chicago based brokerage firm. He went from eating at soup kitchens with his young son and sleeping on subway floors to dining in five star restaurants and staying at ritzy hotels.

Will Smith who portrays him in the Pursuit of Happyness based on his autobiography was intrigued by his story because he says he personifies the American dream.

“It blew me away. The power of the story and there was a look in his eyes and a confidence and a strength in his eyes after having traveled that journey. He personified the American dream. It felt to me that the reason America has been successful in this world is based on the idea that Chris Gardner is possible.”

Will says that Chris Gardner’s success story is an inspiration for everyone to aspire to.

“It is such a story of the mythological picture of what a man is supposed to be. What a man is supposed to do, what a man is supposed to be able to endure. What a man is supposed to be able to accomplish. The film represents the greatest dream and the greatest hope that a man has for his ability to be, his ability to accomplish.”

Will’s son Jaden makes his acting debut in The Pursuit of Happyness and Thandie Newton plays the estranged wife battling over custody for him, opening Friday in theaters.