When we step into a movie theater, we embark on an inner journey. The light breaking into the darkness illuminates hidden emotions within us, sometimes allowing us to find ourselves in a story that does not even belong to us. In cinema, we do more than spend an enjoyable time; films turn into a mirror that reflects the needs of our soul. This mirror may bring tears to our eyes or remind us of forgotten hopes. In psychology, this transformative process is referred to as a therapeutic effect, highlighting the power of films to impact individuals (Dermer & Hutchings, 2000).
The Language of Emotions: Catharsis
We watch a scene, and our eyes well up with tears; emotions we cannot admit even to ourselves spill out through the characters. This experience, described centuries ago by Aristotle as “catharsis,” is one of cinema’s most powerful dimensions. Film gives voice, color, and story to the emotions we cannot put into words. For the viewer, this is both a release and an inner purification (Perrin, 2016).
Empathy and the Stories of Others
Cinema takes us beyond our own lives and into entirely different worlds. Seeing through a child’s eyes, feeling the pain of another culture, or witnessing a hero’s hope—all of these nurture empathy. As Wedding and Niemiec (2003) emphasize, films enable viewers not only to understand others but also to better understand themselves.
Identification and Inner Transformation
When we identify with a film character, we begin to rewrite our own story. In their struggles, falls, and recoveries, we find clues to our own journeys. As Niemiec and Wedding (2014) note, such identifications are not mere admiration but sources of awareness and courage for the individual’s own life.
The Power of Hope and Shared Experience
Cinema can be both a consolation and a reminder: no matter how difficult life becomes, it goes on. A character’s hope can rekindle the viewer’s own. According to Seligman’s (2011) perspective in positive psychology, people draw strength from inspiring stories. Watching a film is often not a solitary experience but one shared with others. Laughter or tears in the darkness of the theater weave invisible bonds that deepen relationships (Taylor, 2011).
An Attachment Perspective: Cinema as a Safe Haven
According to attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988), we all need figures in our lives who function as a safe haven. These figures provide calm, acceptance, and support in difficult times, but not everyone has access to such relationships. Symbolically, cinema can compensate for this absence.
In international examples, Finding Nemo portrays a father’s search for his child and his unconditional love, reflecting the warmth of secure attachment. Good Will Hunting illustrates the therapeutic relationship as a space where individuals can reconsider their attachment patterns. These examples suggest that cinema does more than tell a story—it creates a symbolic space where secure attachment can be experienced (Holmes, 2010; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016).
Turkish cinema also offers similar illustrations. In My Father and My Son (Babam ve Oğlum), the reestablished bond between father and son evokes deep feelings of trust and belonging. In The Butterfly’s Dream (Kelebeğin Rüyası), friendship and solidarity emerge as sources of comfort and security in difficult times.
Cinema Therapy
Cinema therapy helps clients recognize their emotions and gain insight by selecting films that parallel their own life stories (Dermer & Hutchings, 2000).
For example:
-
A client experiencing grief may connect with repressed emotions of loss through Manchester by the Sea.
-
An adolescent struggling with identity issues may find themselves in The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Mustang.
-
Adults with attachment anxiety or avoidance may observe relational dynamics in Alone (Issız Adam) or My Father and My Son (Babam ve Oğlum) and become more aware of their own emotional responses.
In addition, films with themes of resilience and hope—such as The Pursuit of Happyness or The Butterfly’s Dream (Kelebeğin Rüyası)—can foster motivation and optimism when clients face challenging life events.
The therapist does not simply present films; rather, they guide clients in making sense of their identifications with characters, the emotions that arise, and the thought patterns that emerge. This process deepens as the therapist asks open-ended questions, reflects emotions, and supports the client in linking cinematic experiences to personal life. All of this unfolds within a safe therapeutic space, characterized by empathy, acceptance, and the absence of judgment. In this way, film becomes a powerful tool for clients to explore their life stories, express emotions, and develop self-insight.
Cinema is not merely an art to be watched and forgotten; it is a companion that touches the depths of the soul, sometimes consoling, sometimes healing. It makes our emotions visible, nurtures empathy, fosters insight, and rekindles hope. From an attachment perspective, films can embrace us like a safe haven during life’s storms. Cinema is thus both an eye-opener and a heart-opener—an experience with healing potential. Perhaps when we leave the theater, we feel not only that we have witnessed another story, but also that we have touched our own inner journey.
Melis Kümbetlioğlu
Psychologist & Attachment Theory Specialist
References
-
Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic Books.
-
Dermer, S. B., & Hutchings, J. B. (2000). Utilizing movies in family therapy: Applications for individuals, couples, and families. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 28(2), 163–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/019261800261734
-
Holmes, J. (2010). Exploring insecurity: Towards an attachment-informed psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Routledge.
-
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2016). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
-
Niemiec, R. M., & Wedding, D. (2014). Positive psychology at the movies: Using films to build virtues and character strengths (2nd ed.). Hogrefe Publishing.
-
Perrin, A. (2016). Aristotle’s theory of catharsis: A psychoanalytic reappraisal. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 97(4), 1035–1054. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-8315.12546
-
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Free Press.
-
Taylor, S. E. (2011). Social support: A review. In M. S. Friedman (Ed.), The handbook of health psychology (pp. 189–214). Oxford University Press.
-
Wedding, D., & Niemiec, R. M. (2003). The clinical use of films in psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(2), 207–215. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10142