Hi there,
On a Friday evening a couple of years ago, hit by the blues, I curled up on my couch, set to escape into the world of cinema. As the captivating storyline unfolded, I couldn't help but notice the protagonist's emotional journey. Their struggles seemed to mirror my own inner battles. The film's poignant moments resonated with me, stirring up long-forgotten memories.
After, I wondered if others had a similar experience when viewing films through a personal lens. Could "The Incredible Hulk" shed light on anger management? Was the "Titanic" a study on relationship compatibility? Does "It" embody childhood trauma? I recently read somewhere that the John Wick franchise is a metaphor for the 5 stages of grief.
From movies that explore the intricacies of grief to those that serve as self-help guides, valuable insights can be found in cinema. There had to be someone else who thought like me about this and had things to say.
Shortly after, a chance encounter with YouTube's algorithm pointed me to Cinema Therapy. I clicked on their Lord of the Rings video faster than Frodo could say, "One does not simply walk into Mordor,” and was soon immersed in a conversation about toxic masculinity. How Aragorn, that ruggedly handsome hero, showed men all how to be emotionally healthy dudes instead of toxic buffoons.
The channel is run by Decker, a licensed therapist, and Seawright a filmmaker in therapy. Friends since college, in 2020, they combined their areas of expertise to discuss mental health through the lens of film. Et voila, Cinema Therapy was born. They've grown a 1.38 million strong community since and are known by all as the "Internet dads.” I've followed them since they were newbies and admire how they empower their subscribers to seek assistance when necessary and offer support to loved ones.
This channel is my go-to to dismantle stereotypes surrounding mental health. It combines entertainment with education and offers a deeper understanding of mental health challenges in an engaging format.
Go check if they've analysed the movie that mirrored your life.
Let me know how it goes.
Yours,
Nikita