We learn about life from watching others. From this observation we construct moral models of the options for behavior open to us, the advantages and disadvantages of various behaviors and activities, and develop preferences and intentions for making decisions and choosing actions in our lives. This knowledge of moral models is usually unconscious and over a lifetime we develop deeper and deeper understandings of what makes us tick and why we think the things we think, feel the way we feel, and do the things we do and construct the identities which we perform.
Socrates said that an unexamined life is not worth living and good stories whether obtained from conversation, articles, books, films, or other forms of media hopefully will make us think, make us more aware, and help us make better choices for ourselves, for our relationships, and for the world we live in. Below is a list of films which I found helpful and meaningful and I believe are worth your time watching and considering. They are listed under relevant topic areas which the film in some way addresses. Films are added continually so visit this page periodically.
Cinema Therapy page last updated on 06/04/12 06/04/12 Iris under Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's Disease
Iris - Iris, based on the life of revered British writer and philosopher Iris Murdoch, is a story of unlikely yet enduring love. As a young academic, teaching philosophy at Oxford, Murdoch meets and eventually falls in love with fellow professor John Bayley, a man whose awkwardness seems in stark opposition to the spirited self-confidence of his future wife. The story unfolds as snippets of time, seen through Bayley's eyes. He recalls their first encounter over 40 years ago, activities they enjoyed doing together, and Iris' charismatic and individualistic personality. These images portray Murdoch as a vibrant young woman with great intellect and are contrasted with the novelist's later life, after the effects of Alzheimer's disease have ravaged her. Murdoch's great mind deteriorates until she is reduced to a mere vestige of her former self, unable to perform simple tasks and completely reliant on her at times frustrated yet devoted husband.
From the Internet Movie Data Base web site.
Fathering
Harry and Tonto- Fathering with adult children. After getting evicted from his life long New York City apartment which is being torn down, Harry Combs, in his mid 70s has to find a new place for himself in the world. While his three adult children invite him to withdraw from the world, and isolate himself in their homes where he will be "safe", Harry maintains his dignity, self-respect, and asserts his desire for self determination in a very constructive and loving way setting appropriate limits with his three adult children. It is instructive to watch as Harry negotiates these family dynamics and has quite different adult to adult relationships with his three grown children.
