In Hidden Figures, directed by Theodore Melfi, and The Pursuit of Happyness, directed by Gabriel Muccino, viewers encounter characters defined by their status in life and throughout of their lives. Over the course of the films, they break down the barriers that hold them back, to become great successes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayHidden Figures follows the story of three unassuming African-American female mathematicians, Katherine G Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, in the 1960s, working at NASA Langley. Research center. These three women played a vital role in launching astronaut John Glenn into orbit and orchestrating his safe return. himself and his young son, Christopher. Chris eventually lands an unpaid internship as a stockbroker that paves the way for his rise to greatness and wealth and the search for true happiness. The protagonists of both films discover that it is their inner resources and not their social status or race that give them the success they achieve by the films' end. Both storylines illustrate great success stories, however, Hidden Figures highlights what can be done in the face of adversity, when sexism and racism put you in a box, and what can happen when you break free from those limitations. The three women highlighted in Hidden characters each face obstacles due to their race and gender. The film focuses on Katherine G. Johnson, however, by the end of the film, all three women have overcome the societal challenges placed on them to make invaluable contributions to NASA's space program. Their success not only brought personal success to the three women but to all women working at NASA and their contribution has become part of the history not only of NASA but also of the struggles that women and especially women of color faced in the 1960s. Pursuit of happiness, Chris Gardener's quest is not about the search for money but rather about the happiness that being a responsible father will bring. It would be easy to mistake his true quest, as he is struggling financially and making money is his main goal. However, this just goes to show that having financial security makes life easier and therefore creates a happier life. Throughout the film, Chris Gardener makes many difficult moral decisions that take his life in different directions. His persistence in trying to sell his medical devices when no one was interested in buying them demonstrated his perseverance but also his naivety. Where a lesser person would have given up, as his wife did, his commitment to being a good father was put above all else and although it would have been easier for him if he had not had his son in his care. load, we weren't going to do it. give up. He defines his happiness, his success, as being a responsible father and accepts all the difficulties that accompany this decision. To conclude, although both films demonstrate success, they are both different versions of success. The first is the success of finally being accepted for one's mathematical genius rather than one's gender and race and the second is the success of finding true happiness by being the best father possible (with financial success a close second). mind: This is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Success should not be defined in monetary terms or acceptance by.