this format can lead to long meeting times that are not always
convenient.
The next best thing is for each group member to watch the
movie at home prior to the meeting, using the same suggestions.
Depending on the size of the group and whether you prefer to
spend one or more meetings on processing a specific film, a meet-
ing time between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half hours seems
best. My groups work well meeting for an hour-and-a-half. We
view a different movie every other week at home and talk during
the two following meetings about everyone’s learning and heal-
ing experiences as well as any feelings that it brought up.
Though the collective viewing experience in a theater can
enhance the emotional impact of a movie in a powerful way, it
is not always practical. It limits the film choice to the new
releases and does not allow the viewer to watch certain scenes
over again. For some it is easier to get in touch with their emo-
tional responses in the safety of their home.
In either case, after watching the movie and before interact-
ing with others, group participants benefit from writing down
their answers to the questions that can be found at the end of
Chapter 3 and filling out the matrices in Chapters 8 through 10.
Movie Selection
Taking turns, group members choose a movie for everyone to
watch. It helps to check with video stores about availability
prior to announcing the choice.
A film could be selected for different reasons. Here are
three of them:
Watching the movie serves to elicit a group exchange
focused on specific issues such as addictions, overcoming
and growing from life’s challenges, pursuing one’s pas-
sion, strength in vulnerability, anger and forgiveness,
finding meaning in life, etc.
The movie’s allegoric message supports healing andCreating a Cinema Therapy Group 181