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Trauma in the Movies

Writer: goldenstateservicesj
goldenstateservicesj
Nov 5, 2022
3 min read

Books, songs, and movies all have a special connection with us. One of the reasons for this is their ability to tell the truth. Yes, they all use fiction and special effects to get their message across, but we’re drawn to specific ones because of what they mean to us. And often they tell the truth about difficult things in life.

Some of the most difficult things for these media to tackle is trauma. Thankfully there are writers and directors who take the challenge, some even hitting the nail square on the head. Depending on what trauma you’ve had in your life, the following may be good for you to check out, or maybe avoid (could be triggering). You can also watch them to try and understand and, better yet, dare to feel. Let someone else’s story speak to you. We don’t have to be alone in our trauma. We also don’t have to be a fellow survivor to be a compassionate listener. So here are some to consider:

  • PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA:

(1978);


(1991)

  • SEXUAL TRAUMA:

(2019);


(2003);


(2009)

  • LONG TERM ABUSE:

(2015).

  • This movie is self-indulgent by exploiting a traumatic situation. It’s one of the best movies of 2015 and it’s a near-guaranteed hit if you try it out. If you have already, you know what I’m talking about.

  • ADOLESCENT/COMING OF AGE:

(1985).

  • When I was 13 and this came out in theatres, I wasn’t interested. I didn’t want to see Hollywood’s cool kids sitting around talking in their cool way about how cool they were. But that’s not what the film was. I discovered when watching it many years later that John Hughes gave us a collection of very typical high school students who allow themselves to be vulnerable enough with each other to open up about their own traumas. It’s not your run-of-the-mill 80’s movie.

  • RACIAL TRAUMA:

(1989);


(2013)

  • PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT TRAUMA:

(2007)

  • FEMALE TRAUMA PERSPECTIVE:

(2014);


(2020)

  • MALE TRAUMA PERSPECTIVE: (2016); (2007)

  • LGBTQ TRAUMA PERSPECTIVE: (2016); (2015)

CELEBRITY PERSPECTIVE:


(2016)

.

  • Perhaps you’ve experienced the indescribable feeling of talking to someone who has been where you’ve been and you suddenly realize you’re not alone. And strangely enough, it can be a similar experience when you hear from famous people who have traveled your painful journey.

And as for our movie of the week, I really don’t think many–if any–could identify with the experience the titular subjects and what they have been through, but watching the movie is enlightening, and you still may be able to identify with one of the three.

Congratulations . This is your week.


Most Culturally and Historically Relevant:


Most Inspiring:

Best Quote: “When I tell people my story, they don’t believe it. I guess I wouldn’t believe the story if someone else were telling it, but I’m telling it and it’s true, every word of it.” – Robert Shafran in

My Top 10 Favourite Documentaries:

  1. Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom (2015)

  2. Foster Child (1987)

  3. Tower (2016)

  4. Summer of Soul(…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2022)

  5. Flee (2021)

  6. Won’t You Be My Neighbour (2018)

  7. Three Identical Strangers (2018)

  8. 13th (2016)

  9. When We Were Kings (1996)

  10. The Act of Killing (2012)

Honourable Mentions: Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020); Casting JonBenet (2017); Nanook of the North (1922); Hot Coffee (2011); Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

 
 
 

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