by Nancy Gonzalez
The other night, my husband and I watched our DVD of A Streetcar Named Desire because neither of us had seen it in a while. Who could forget this scene? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1A0p0F_iH8 . Tennessee Williams, the playwright, was responsible for this Pulitzer Prize winner and other masterpieces including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I know of a few NCFR members who use films in their teaching. There are many movies, plays and musicals that portray important messages about families and relationships. Here are a few that have spoken to me.
Streetcar is one of many films that covers Intimate Partner Violence. Coincidentally, three others—Oklahoma, Sinclair Lewis' Elmer Gantry and Carousel—star my favorite actress, Shirley Jones. In the latter musical, the stormy and irascible Billy Bigelow is unable to tell his wife Julie how he’d loved her until it was too late. Here’s the inimitable baritone Gordon MacRae singing the Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece, If I Loved You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66MvvkXg8JI
Ordinary People, based on the Judith Guest book of the same name, is a clear representation of a troubled family whose communication patterns compound an already tragic family situation. Mary Tyler Moore, as the family mom, gives a stunning performance in this Oscar winner for Best Picture. One of my instructors in grad school showed it to our class as an example of ailing family dynamics. Here's the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O43Fw6yxCU8 It's a great film--if you can stand the soundtrack, that is. This 1980 movie’s theme song was Pachelbel’s Canon in D major; four chords of interminable orchestral ennui. However, if this tune was selected to underscore the hopeless repetitive cycle of family dysfunction, it's perfect.
The movie that—in my mind—best depicts the horror of a bad marriage is Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff? Edward Albee wrote the original play, resulting in much critical acclaim. The movie version won five Oscars in 1967. It’s a classic, and every adult should see it—particularly family professionals. But make sure you’re on an emotional even keel when you do. By the time you reach the closing credits, I guarantee that you’ll feel as if you’ve crawled your way through a culvert filled with sheet metal screws. Here’s a famous scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nInE5TITzE8
For a film on the prejudice of interracial relationships, nothing beats Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Katherine Hepburn walked away with the Oscar in 1968 for this one. Here’s the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXZiuXRex5E .
The best film I’ve ever seen on substance abuse is The Lost Weekend. This one swept the 1946 Oscars with Best Picture, Best Director and other awards. Ray Milland won Best Actor. Jane Wyman's interpretation of the codependent girlfriend is excellent too. Here’s the famous scene on delirium tremens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A6yi_2pLLM
Then, there’s something about the holidays that brings out the family movies—here are two; one recent and one classic. Just like a glass of eggnog, both serve-up rich and heavy messages that stay with you.
This Christmas isn’t your typical, predictable “the whole family comes home for the holidays and, despite some grousing, they discover the true meaning of Christmas” sucrose overdose. It doesn’t beat around the bush—or the tree—about family problems. Issues they address include single parenthood, family secrets, unplanned pregnancy, incarceration, race relations, the importance of “social fathers” and more. This 2007 movie has so many twists and turns that the list of issues I just provided won’t be a spoiler for anyone. Here’s the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqsf5qeP2CQ
It’s a Wonderful Life is my favorite movie of all time—all year long. This story touches on so many aspects of family and community. It’s the movie that, in my opinion, best depicts the fine line between hope and despair. Director Frank Capra’s existential philosophy ranks right up there with Nietzsche and Kierkegaard. For over 60 years, it’s been asking life’s most meaningful question: does any one of us really matter? It will make you believe in the magic of ZuZu petals. It’s June—time for a mid-year trip to Bedford Falls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErrzjGCi3gY
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Sigh. The Pachelbel melody is still playing in my brain—it will likely be with me all day. Maybe it’s stuck in your mind now too. Oh, well. When life hands you lemons, make some fun. Watch a hilarious bit by a comedian who has developed an entire routine on the tedium of Pachelbel’s “D.” Check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM .
That Pachelbel tune didn’t have to be dull… here’s proof. In lieu of the original Opus Monotonous version, listen to a punched-up Pachelbel piece on the ‘net that ranks #17 of the most-watched YouTube videos of all time, with almost 44 million hits. Now this kid can play the guitar! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8 .] Enjoy!
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6/4/08 Update: I put out a call to an NCFR member who frequently uses film in the classroom. These are suggestions for films that might be useful for teaching.
Disclaimer: These are ideas for teaching at the college or adult level. I have not seen all of these films (some I've never heard of), so these are not recommendations. You can check out the plot synopses for any of these films at www.imdb.com . These films are art, not science, of course. However, they may provide useful springboards for discussion and for the comparative study of popular culture vs. evidence-based family studies. NCFR members: Do you have more movie ideas? Send them to me at nancygonzalez at ncfr dot org . (Formatting removed to reduce web-crawling spam.) I'll post them.
A Place for Annie
Antwone Fisher
The Big Fish
Brokeback Mountain
The Burning Bed
Bye, Bye, Love
The Color Purple
Crooklyn [sic]
Driving Miss Daisy
Everyone Says I Love You
Failure to Launch
Father of the Bride
Finding Nemo
Finding Neverland
Four Seasons
Fried Green Tomatoes
Grand Canyon
Grumpy Old Men
The Great Santini
Home Fries
How to Make an American Quilt
Irreconcilable Differences
Irene
It’s My Party
The Joy Luck Club
Kramer vs. Kramer
Life as a House
Man of the House
The Mirror has Two Faces
Mommy Dearest
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Cheaper by the Dozen
Mrs. Doubtfire
My Life
Nine Months
Nobody’s Fool
The Notebook
October Sky
On Golden Pond
Only the Lonely
Ordinary People
The Other Sister
Parenthood
Playing by Heart
Philadelphia Story
The Prince of Tides
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Radio Flyer
Raising Arizona
Rhapsody in Bloom
Steel Magnolias
Stepmom
Terms of Endearment
Tumbleweeds
Waiting to Exhale
A Walk in the Clouds
Walk the Line
War of the Roses
The Whales of August
What’s Cooking
What's Eating Gilbert Grape?
What's Love Got to do with It?
When a Man Loves a Woman
Yours, Mine and Ours
You’ve Got Mail