Movies and Videos That May Be Used

with suggestions for discussion questions provided

Below are some movies and videos that have been used by instructors teaching communication disorders and counseling classes.

• The Doctor - a 2-thumbs up movie starring William Hurt. 123 minutes long. From Touchstone Home Video. Probably available at your local video rental. It is the story of an extraordinary professional (a cardio-vascular surgeon) who experiences firsthand what it is like being an ordinary patient.

  Questions for Discussion

  • Why were you required to watch this film the first week of this class on counseling and communication disorders?
  • What is "empathy?"
  • Besides watching this film, what classroom/clinical experiences have you had that have helped you develop empathy with the clients you are currently serving and those you will serve in the future?
  • What life experiences have you had that have helped you develop empathy with the clients you are currently serving and those you will serve in the future?

• Stroke: Focus on Feelings. Oracle Film & Video, Santa Monica, California, 1986.

• Stroke: Focus on the Family - Oracle Film & Video, Santa Monica, California, 1988, a 20 minute video with family members of stroke survivors discussing how their family member changed, their feelings, and some of the solutions they came up with.

  • How did the person change?
  • How did the family members feel?
  • How did the stroke survivors feel?
  • Watch for body language that also speaks volumes. What did you see?
  • What were some of the family solutions expressed?

• Losing It All - a documentary exploring the lives of five people living with Alzheimer's Disease and the impact it has on their families - about 60 minutes.

  Identify what you would consider counseling "issues" for each of the families dealing with Alzheimer's Disease.

  • Pat Ryan
  • Rita Hollinsworth
  • Pat Hudson
  • Wes Hudson
  • Vi Newland
  • Hudson families

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The following assignment was shared by Robin Alvares

MOVIE REVIEW

The clients we work with are bombarded by images of disorders, treatment and the role of professionals. You will break up into pairs and then watch and critique a film about a communication disorder or a chronic illness or disability. You will write up reviews separately, and you will only discuss your reviews with each other in class.

Please answer the following questions about the film:

1. Give a brief synopsis of the film.
2. Is the depiction of the disorder accurate? What is accurate and what is inaccurate?
3. What are the responses of significant individual's in the affected person's life? Do you feel they are realistic?
4. How are professionals portrayed in the film? Are the portrayals positive or negative? Do you think the portrayals are realistic?
5. Show a clip from the film to stimulate class discussion and develop a question for class discussion. Lead the class discussion.

MOVIE LIST

• "The Mighty"
• "Awakenings"
• "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
• "Simon Birch"
• "Mercury Rising"
• "Rainman"
• "Benny and June"
• "The Other Sister"
• "One True Thing"
• "The Doctor"
• "Children of a Lesser God"
• "Patch Adams"
• "Dominick and Eugene"
• "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?"
• "Elephant Man"
• "My Left Foot"
• "A Fish Called Wanda"
• "What the Deaf Man Heard"
• "The Miracle Worker"
• "Nell"
• "Coming Home"
• "Angel at My Table"
• "Love Story"
• "Magnificent Obsession"
• "Born on the Fourth of July"
• "Shine"
• "Marvin's Room"
• "David's Mother"
• "Family Pictures"
• "Brian's Song"

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added November 26, 2001
last modified January 13, 2002