Trees in Cinema: Forrest Gump Certain trees in film aren’t chosen by accident. Their form, the movement of the trunk, the gesture of a branch—offers more than visual interest. Trees can set the tone, root us in place, and subtly underscore the emotional weight of a scene. The Oak in Forrest Gump does all of this and more. It becomes a symbol—of home, of memory, of Forrest’s connection to Jenny. As we return to it throughout the film, the tree serves as a living witness to the passage of time and