Movies Can Be Great for Mental Health – Should You Try Kathryn Bigelow’s Movies?

Kathryn Bigelow, the American film director, has lots of big movies and collaborated with many important actors. Is it true that her movies can help people improve their mental health?

Therapists prescribe movies to their patients to help them explore their psyches, according to WebMD. This kind of therapy can improve the way people feel, think, or deal with life's ups and downs.

According to Birgit Wolz, PhD, “popcorn cinema therapy” is rather light on therapy and rather heavy on cinema. “First, I ask about their personal situation and get a sense of where they are at in their lives, and then I will recommend movies that may speak to them on certain levels,” she said.

The cathartic cinema therapy involves laughing or crying. Supposing that somebody is in the midst of a depression, it would be better to watch a movie that might make him cry so he would open up different levels of his psyche.

Just watching the movie isn’t enough – people should think about the characters, the story, what they liked or not and why. Birgit Wolz also suggests people should think if the characters from the movie don’t have special behaviors that the patient would like to emulate.

Besides “The Hurt Locker,” Kathryn Bigelow directed other important movies like “Strange Days,” and “K-19: The Widowmaker.” Movie lovers should try this kind of therapy.