Film Review: Qualitative Analysis of Meaningful Male Relational Images in Falling Down

ABSTRACT

Relational cultural therapy tenets are based on feminist theory but can be used with male clients using cinematherapy. Falling Down, a movie about a middle-aged man in crisis during times of social upheaval in Los Angeles, is examined for the main relational images and their influence on the central relational paradox through narrative qualitative analysis. Codes for visual, auditory, and somatosensory aspects were applied and the frequency of co-occurrences calculated. “Home” was found to be the most significant relational image among the main male characters ensuing from the central relational paradox. The study shows how relational images can be examined and be applied in cinematherapy with male clients.

KEYWORDS:

• Falling down
• relational image
• cinematherapy
• psychological film analysis
• movie review
• relational cultural theory
• creativity in counseling
• growth-fostering relationships
• men
• mental health
• Movie Review
• male

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Ailyn Diaz, upon reasonable request. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UKOO7gpkL4tSHQlM26hdRxp4fmyC-k2/view?usp=sharing