| About 20 years ago, Catherine Ryan Hyde was | | | | Spacey) : think of something that will change |
| driving alone at night in a rough area of | | | | the world and put it into action.Trevor's |
| downtown Los Angeles in her old tattered car. | | | | idea is deceptively simple - do a good deed |
| It was the best she could afford, she drove | | | | for three people and in return, ask each of |
| it all the time and relied on the car for | | | | them to 'pay it forward' to three more. "So |
| every cent of cash she earned.When she braked | | | | nine people get helped. Then those people |
| at an off-ramp, the engine suddenly died. All | | | | have to do twenty-seven ... then it sort of |
| the lights went out and the car started to | | | | spreads out." His attempts to put the concept |
| fill with smoke. She jumped out to see two | | | | into action at first don't seem to work out : |
| men running towards her, one of them holding | | | | a drug-addict he befriends cannot mend his |
| a blanket - pushing past her, he yanked open | | | | ways, but later talks a woman out of jumping |
| the bonnet: the engine was on fire.The car | | | | off a bridge. A reporter gets wind of his |
| could have exploded at any moment, but this | | | | idea and becomes a benefactor as he retraces |
| total stranger smothered the blaze and saved | | | | Trevor's efforts after his car is destroyed |
| her car, her livelihood and possibly her | | | | in an accident and he is given a very |
| life. When the emergency was over she looked | | | | expensive Jaguar by a rich |
| up to thank him - but he was gone.Over the | | | | stranger.Meanwhile, Trevor is worried about |
| following months she decided that if she | | | | his alcoholic mother Arlene (Helen Hunt), not |
| couldn't do anything to repay the man, she | | | | only because his brutal father (Jon Bon Jovi) |
| would look for others who needed help as much | | | | might return at any time; he also tries to |
| as she did the night her engine burned.When | | | | bring his mother and his new teacher together |
| Catherine did find these opportunities they | | | | - they are both emotionally scarred by the |
| weren't very dramatic at first, but meant a | | | | past, but eventually their relationship heals |
| lot to strangers in trouble who often asked | | | | some very deep wounds.In the end though, |
| how they could repay her."Don't pay it back | | | | Trevor pays a high price for helping a |
| to me," she said. | | | | classmate fight off some school-bullies.Just |
| | | | another sentimental Hollywood production?Not |
| "Pay it forward to someone else."This | | | | at all : this is one of the few films that |
| incident was a turning point in her life. She | | | | has a tangible impact on societies worldwide |
| wanted to hold on to the idea of sending | | | | and highlights an important message : that |
| people into the world owing a favour to a | | | | one person can make a difference, even in |
| stranger and when she wrote her second novel | | | | this materialistic and often cynical world. |
| 'Pay It Forward' in 2000 she often had | | | | It inspires to help without expectation of |
| fantasies of people emulating the book:"There | | | | reward or remuneration - and it works, not |
| are infinite possiblities for the ways in | | | | only in the movie!After you've seen the film, |
| which this could be done. How many times do | | | | you stop and think about the meaning of life |
| we step around a homeless person on the | | | | - and some people take action : The 'Pay It |
| street? Oh dear, we think, that person | | | | Forward' Movement is the real-life reaction |
| certainly has a problem. But we let it remain | | | | to Catherine Ryan Hyde's novel and their |
| their problem. We would not normally think to | | | | website shows many inspiring stories and |
| stop and make it our own." | | | | media reports from all over the world, not |
| | | | only the USA, Canada and the UK.The material |
| "It's a new way of thinking; to begin to see | | | | is also used in many schools and colleges and |
| beyond our own problems into other people's | | | | with all this in mind I have now launched a |
| lives and figure out if there is some way we | | | | WeBlog for 'Pay It Forward South Africa - |
| can help them." She didn't write the novel | | | | Changing South Africa One Favour at a |
| expecting a to create a social movement, but | | | | Time'.In this country, we have a history of |
| that's exactly what happened : the 'Pay It | | | | violence and a high crime rate, but for every |
| Forward Foundation' was established in | | | | offense there are 99 acts of kindness - it is |
| September 2000, followed by the Warner | | | | my hope that all this benevolence will now be |
| Brothers movie the same year and the 'Pay It | | | | as liberally reported on this website as |
| Forward Movement - Changing the World One | | | | brutality is in the traditional media.And why |
| Favour at a Time' has a very active | | | | wait to pay it forward until someone helps |
| representation in eight countries since | | | | you out of a predicament? If you think back, |
| 2002.I have seen the movie three times now | | | | I am sure you'll remember many incidents |
| and at first I felt let down by the ending. | | | | where other people made life easier for |
| Now I understand it, but I really want you to | | | | you.Just look where you can assist and start |
| go and see the film so here's the story | | | | doing favours to others - pay it forward! It |
| without giving too much away :Trevor McKinney | | | | doesn't have to be anything big or dramatic; |
| (Haley Joel Osment) is a 12 years old boy who | | | | you'll be surprised how much goodwill is |
| gets an assignment from his new, disfigured | | | | coming your way although you don't expect to |
| Social Studies teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin | | | | be rewarded. |