By Miguel Escudero
Dec 27, 2023, 00:37 AM EST
In recent years, social media has added a new ritual to the traditional New Year’s Eve party: watching “Forrest Gump.” And just as there are already established protocols to enjoy this occasion, such as eating the traditional 12 grapes during the final 12 bells of the year or wearing a new garment to welcome another year, the internet has provided its own ritual.
Although it is not known exactly how this fun challenge arose, the truth is that since its first appearance, it has not stopped being practiced by a large number of people who use their social networks to spread the challenge.
This ritual comes from a particular scene in the Oscar-winning film “Forrest Gump.” The film directed by Robert Zemeckis, and starring Tom Hanks, tells the story of Forrest Gump, a man with a slight mental disability that allows him to live a large number of experiences and stories almost involuntarily.
During one of his facets, the character who gave Tom Hanks the Oscar is part of the US army during the Vietnam War. It is in this conflict where he meets his best friend Bubba and Lieutenant Dan, played by American Gary Sinise. During the development of the war, Lieutenant Dan loses his legs so Gump helps him get out alive.
After the end of the war, the paths of Gump and Lieutenant Dan separate until years later, Gary Sinise’s character meets Forrest again to complain to him for saving him and turning him into a disabled person. Despite this, Gump decides to stay with the former soldier and help him with various tasks.
How to welcome the year with Lieutenant Dan?
After meeting again, Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan decide to spend New Year’s together so they attend a bar to celebrate the holiday. In this scene where the fun challenge arises due to the reaction and appearance of Gary Sinise’s character to welcome the new year.
And during the scene, and just as the new year begins, Lieutenant Dan remains sitting in his wheelchair with a completely lost look and without any hope. This sad reaction, on the part of Sinise, caused a whole wave of reactions on social networks because many users felt identified with the right character.
Due to the above, and as part of the challenge, it went viral to watch the film starting at 22:38:57 (local time) so that right at 12 o’clock, the scene of Lieutenant Dan receiving the new year coincides with the new year of the people who watch the tape.
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