Film Analysis: The Grapes Of Wrath

“The Grapes of Wrath” The film starts off with a man by the name of Tom Joad walking down a dirt road in Oklahoma. Joad encounters a man driving a truck and he asks for a lift. The man takes him as far as he can and on the way Joad explains that he was a convict for homicide. It is later learned that he killed a man with a shovel, which is explained to the former priest that baptized Tom. Tom explains that he is heading back to reunite with his family after being put on parole 4 years into his 7 year sentence. The priest goes with him and Tom come to find his farm home abandoned and taken over by a squatter. The squatter is known to Tom and they talk about what happened to his family. The squatter explains that their land was taken up by the government which is run by the bank. It forced the families out of their homes and to move to California. Tom is told that his family is on his Uncle’s farm. Tom head there next and he is finally reunited with the former priest in tow. They all get acquainted again and they seem to all ask the same question of whether or not he busted out of prison. From here it goes on to show the …show more content…
This film was made in 1940, not too shy from the time when the Great Depression had started in 1930. It directly relates to the topics discussed in class, from the Okies to the severe drought. Also explained in the film that relates to the class theme is the economic loss brought up throughout. As the Joad’s are looking for work they come across many false advertisements for good high paying work. At the time it was unrealistic to receive a high wage because there simply was no money to be given out. This also directly relates to the themes presented in class through the migration. Many families had to leave their homes to survive. This is prevalent throughout the entire film and is easily relatable to in class