Stand by me Personal Response blog

How does Gordie and Chris’s friendship reflect themes of friendship.

Stand by me is a film that portrays themes of loyalty, love, compassion but friendship is what the boys show the most. The group of friends venture out to discover a dead body, on their adventure they encounter several issues they must overcome, and their friendship and loyalty is tested to the limits. This blog is going to give an in-depth explanation and analysis on Chris and Gordie’s friendship and underline the themes of friendship and loyalty.

Chris and Gordie’s friendship in the film is portyaed as very close as they are able to stay up at night talking about their emotions, feelings and what has been happening in life openly without feeling embarased or being insecure.

Video 1:

In this clip Chris and Gordie are having a deep chat with dim lighting with the fire crackling and the diegetic sounds of the night in the background emphasise the trauma that Chris has. This clip also shows the audience how close of a friendship him and Gordie have because Chris gives the impression of someone who is the “leader” and the most “brave” in the group, and for him to cry and express himself to Gordie emphasises the friendship and loyalty they have in one another.

 

Video 2:

This clip also portrays how close Gordie and Chris are. Chris knows what Gordie has been through and is trying to reassure Gordie that his dad doesn’t hate him he just doesn’t understand him. The use of the mis en scene and the dead body really emphasises the survivors guilt Gordie has.

 

Video 3:

The willingness to sacrifice themselves for the body and the group, really outlines the loyalty they have for each other. Despite getting faced by Ace and a knife Chris stands his ground to protect his group and is standing up for what is rightfully theirs. The camera angles depict Chris as a lonely boy trying to fend off this big group of men, the close ups on Chris’s face and the mid shots showing the cobras exaggerates the fear Ace is trying to convey.

Text to self:

When I was in primary school me and my friends had a close relationship and we felt like we could take on the world similar to the boys in Stand By Me that go on search of a dead body. Although me and my friends didn’t have a secret hangout spot like a treehouse or go on search for dead bodies, we would always meet on the oval at lunch time and kick the footy and we would do things around the school yard called missions were we had to run around in the staff room or run down to the music room and play the piano for 5 seconds without getting caught, these were our own adventures. Chris and Gordie’s friendship was one of a kind and I may not have had one of those growing up but there were definitely moments where I could have a deep chat to one of my friends and tell them how I was feeling and how I was doing. My group of friends were the definition of loyalty and friendship, if one of us got in trouble we all got in trouble we were all in trouble together and we would never “snitch” on each other and always had each other’s back.

Text to Film (The little Rascals):

The little Rascals mirrors the themes in Stand By Me perfectly, there is a group of friends that have a secret hideout, similar to the treehouse in Stand By Me, and the “gang” of boys go on adventures that challenge their friendship and loyalty, for example Alfalfa gets a girlfriend and leaves his group of friends to go hang out with her, this challenged Alfalfa’s loyalty to the group, the group of friends tried and tried to get Alfalfa to come back to the group and eventually he comes to his senses. The two films share themes as well as friendship as they 2 groups of boys stick together, listen to one another (most of the time) and always have each other’s backs no matter the circumstances.

Text to world:

The theme of friendship in Stand By Me resonates with people around the world. In an increasingly interconnected yet often isolating world, the film’s portrayal of genuine, supportive relationships among young friends serves as a reminder of the power of friendship. The boys journey mirrors the universal experience of forging close bonds during younger years. As adults navigate the complexities of adulthood, many find themselves searching for the kind of unconditional acceptance and friendship depicted in the film. Stand By Me continues to inspire viewers to cherish their friendships, reminding us that in times of hardship and joy alike, having someone to “stand by” us can make all the difference in our growing up and emotional well-being.