3 Films Social Workers Can Learn From

     Movies offer a chance to relax and, often, a chance to reflect. For social workers, watching a film thoughtfully can be a source of worthwhile thought about ourselves, our clients, and our profession. Films don’t have to be about social work, or about our client population, for them to provide us with opportunities for insight. These three recent films could be worth your time and might be professionally helpful.

The Glass Castle

    The Glass Castle is the film adaptation of Jeannette Walls’ memoir of the same name. In the film, Jeannette is a successful gossip columnist in New York City. Her parents are squatters in the same city, having followed her and her siblings to the Big Apple after leaving their longtime rural home. Jeannette struggles with shame toward her parents. Throughout the film, she remembers her nomadic childhood with Rose Mary, her carefree but irresponsible and sometimes negligent mother, and Rex, her father whose alcoholism didn’t stop him from having big dreams, but did stop him from achieving many of them. As Jeannette develops a more compassionate and considered view of her father, she is able to accept him as she sees him, and she is also able to tell him she is glad for the aspects of her in which she sees him reflected.

    As social workers, we may work with and on behalf of people who are often viewed by others through lenses of stereotype and caricature. Through its well-rounded treatment of Rex, The Glass Castle provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the strengths, humanness, and individuality of each of our clients. Try watching The Glass Castle with one or two of your more difficult or puzzling clients in mind. Can you develop a compassionate, thorough understanding of them as Jeannette does for Rex?

Leap!

    Leap! is a computer-animated comedy that follows two French orphans in the 1880s as they run away from their orphanage to pursue their dreams in Paris. Félicie hopes to become a ballerina, and Victor dreams of being an inventor. At the orphanage, Félicie, Victor, and the other children have to follow structure, and the orphanage supervisor M. Luteau attempts to chase them and recover them when they first run away. In an early scene of the film, he appears to be an antagonist. Later, when Félicie is very sad, his true concern for her is evident. Although he is gruff, and perhaps feared or ridiculed by the children in his charge, his heart is for them, and he encourages Félicie to pursue her dreams.

    Like M. Luteau, social workers are sometimes in roles or situations where our words must be more firm than gentle, and our presence might make some people uneasy or uncomfortable. Although we certainly want to be kind, tactful, and as pleasant as we can, sometimes our work requires difficult conversations and hard decisions. M. Luteau’s appearances in Leap! are few and brief, but as you watch the film, think about how your clients perceive your role, and how you can let your heart for serving your clients be visible, regardless of your particular role and responsibilities.

Cars 3

    In Cars 3, veteran race car Lightning McQueen finds that he is outmatched by newer cars. He works with a trainer, Cruz, to try to regain his top form and top status. Along the way, Lightning learns that Cruz has always dreamed of being a racer herself but does not believe she is up to the level of the other race cars. Lightning learns that his late mentor, Doc, was a top racer but that, after a crash ended Doc’s racing career, Doc found new purpose and fulfillment in mentoring Lightning. Inspired by this, Lightning decides to embrace a new role as a mentor for Cruz. He finds fulfillment in helping her reach her dream.

    As a new social work student, I heard social work described as “an empowering profession.” We are empowered by our training and our positions to empower others. Doc’s mentorship empowers Lightning to be his best self. Lightning then finds fulfillment in empowering Cruz to reach her dreams. As social workers, we have the great opportunity to have meaningful roles in the lives of our clients (and also our supervisees). As Doc mentored Lightning, and Lightning did for Cruz, we can help the folks we serve find the strategies, strengths, and resources that will help them meet their own goals and achieve their own dreams. When you watch Cars 3, think about the people who have empowered you, and the ways in which you can empower others.

    As you revisit these three summer films, spend some time thinking about the clients you serve: What makes them unique? What are their strengths and their goals? Think about yourself as a professional: What commits you to your clients? How can you let your genuine positive regard for them show through, regardless of your role? Think about your impact: Who has invested in you? How can you invest in your clients?

    You’ve chosen a very meaningful line of work and study. Go empower!

Addison Cooper, LCSW, is the founder of Adoption at the Movies (http://www.AdoptionAtTheMovies.com). His book, Adoption at the Movies, is now available from Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Find it at: https://www.amazon.com/Adoption-Movies-Friendly-Nights-Talking/dp/1785927094/