When Does "Finding Forrester" (2000) Take Place?
"Finding Forrester" is a coming-of-age film written by Mike Rich that released December 19th, 2000. So when is "Finding Forrester" set?
It takes place in the years:
We know this because Professor Robert Crawford says, "When William Forrester was 23, in 1953, he set out to write his first book." then, about halfway through the movie, William Forrester says, "Well, I decided then: one book was enough." and Jamal Wallace responds, "William, that was 50 years ago, man." Though this could be an exaggeration or rounding up or down.
2000 AD - 2001 AD
We know this because Professor Robert Crawford says, "When William Forrester was 23, in 1953, he set out to write his first book." then, about halfway through the movie, William Forrester says, "Well, I decided then: one book was enough." and Jamal Wallace responds, "William, that was 50 years ago, man." Though this could be an exaggeration or rounding up or down.
1,953 + 50 = 2,003.
More specifically, when Jamal is playing in the high school state championship near the end of the movie a huge banner under the announcers' table reads "2000 NYSAL 2001 CHAMPIONSHIPS". If the season began in 2000 AD and ends in 2001 AD, the championship game must be at the end of the season in mid 2001 AD.
Specifically, very early on the Mailor-Callow School representative David Bradley says, "As you might imagine, we're a few weeks into our Fall term but every year we like to hold some openings while we wait for the test scores to come in." and most American high schools start their year in early September. So it's most likely late September of 2000 AD at the beginning.
Later, Professor Robert Crawford says, ..."all entries must be turned in before spring break, which means you all still have a few months of procrastination left." Spring breaks are usually in March or April. So it must be before that time probably in early 2001 AD.
Additionally, there's an epilogue that opens with a title card superimposed over the footage reading just "senior year". Jamal is said multiple times by multiple characters to be 16-years-old during the main action of the narrative (for example, Forrester asks, "How old are you?" and Jamal responds, "I'm 16.") and in the American school system this would usually mean Jamal is in his sophomore (2 years away from his senior year) or junior year (1 year away from senior year). That makes the epilogue in 2002 AD or 2003 AD.
2,001 + 1 = 2,002
or
2,001 + 2 = 2,003.
