working alone. In this respect a cinema therapy group works
similar to a dream group. Therefore my suggestions for these
groups are similar to Jeremy Taylor’s guidelines for dream
groups in Where People Fly and Water Runs Uphill.^1
I observed that the general mood of a film often reappears
as a feeling among members in the group. There frequently is
a joyful atmosphere during the meeting after a humorous or
uplifting film. A heavier mood is usually felt after darker
movies with content that addresses problematic lives and
interactions. When they become aware of this, members learn
how susceptible we all are to outside influences. Since a
movie is not even a realoutside influence but just light pro-
jected on a screen, it becomes even more obvious to everyone
how our inner experience is shaped by projections on our
environment.
Becoming consciously aware of the atmosphere during
the subsequent group interactions, which are affected by the
general mood of the film, helps members acknowledge their
projections. This is usually easier when a lighthearted mood
is observed than when tension appears. Group participants
often recognize the darker projection in other members first,
which can help as a bridge to becoming more aware of their
own unconscious responses. As group members apply these
insights to their everyday life, they learn to understand them-
selves better, which helps them become more authentic and
real.
A cinema therapy group is not the best approach for every-
one, however. First of all, a group might not always be easily
available where you live. Or perhaps you already know from
experience that you are more successful with inner work on
your own or with a therapist one-on-one. It is also possible that
you want to explore very specific issues, such as building self-
esteem, overcoming grief or that you want to work on releas-
ing certain negative beliefs. If you cannot find or create a group
that matches your interest, you will want to follow the sugges-
tions in this book for working on your own.178 E-Motion Picture Magic