The Use of Cognitive Behavioural Theories in Ladybird Ladybird - Movie Review Example

Ladybird Ladybird: the use of cognitive theory in its assessment Movies have always been a reflection of the society that we live in, the aspirations of the people, the belief system that a culture follows. A movie of a time reflects the social cultural, political and economic setting of the society of the times. Thus, movies are a clear reflection of the realities, the aspirations and the goals of those generations. There are some movies that are relevant to a certain time period, others that carry on for a long time and no don’t fall into any specific category. Films, one of the most popular forms of communication and media, have such great appeal with their story lines, stars, music, and colours that the audiences easily become involved in them. If a movie is well done, we can experience many of the same emotional feelings as the characters in the movie. We are made to feel scared, sad, or relieved and happy when everything turns out all right in the end. Data also indicate that audiences' involvement with films is not likely to stop: The major Hollywood studios release about 350 feature films annually and 40% of Americans go out to movies regularly. The Motion Picture Association of America predicts that by the year 2010 the increase in the U.S. population will lift movie admissions by 12%, which assures films' place as a substantial part of the mass media and an important cultural influence In the following essay there shall be conducted a detailed assessment of the movie “Ladybird Ladybird”, and the cognitive behavioural theory that can be associated with its two primary characters- Maggie and Jorge. The movie ‘Ladybird Ladybird’ was directed by the famous director Ken Loach. Ken Loach is known for his movies which are based in the cruel realistic drama such as Riff Raff and Raining Stones (Allmovies). His movies are always seen to have strong connotations of social commentary and this is true in the case of the Ladybird Ladybird also. The movie was released in the year 1994 and it is based in the British society. It aims at reflecting the fact that many acts that may be done under the illusion of benefit might infact be detrimental to the person or people concerned. It does so through bringing out in motion cinema the ongoing struggle between the state and a mother. The movie Ladybird Ladybird is based mainly around the central character of Maggie. Maggie is shown in the beginning if the film as a mother without her four children. As the film progresses she is introduced to us as a woman who had been abused by her own father when she was a girl she then grows up to become a woman who a string of unsuccessful relationships to her name. She bears four children, all from different partners. She is seen to flee from an abusive relationship with her children in tow, but leaves her children locked at home one day. A fire breaks out where a boy gets seriously injured. The British social security system takes away the children and puts them in foster homes. The movie then progresses to show how Maggie becomes her own enemy, she rants and shouts at the authorities, and disrupts the system. Finally she meets a kind hearted illegal immigrant who was a political refugee from Paraguay, whose visa has expired. He helps her rise back to her feet, and they make plans of starting their family only to have their child taken away by the authorities. The movie then progresses to show Maggie’s struggle against the bureaucratic system in her fight to get back her children. The struggle that is depicted by Loach is heart wrenching. The social service workers who once expressed concern over whether Maggie was "coping" (a favorite word here) have lost patience, and they become more invasive, and here there has been an attempt to depict the existing flaws with the social security system. Thus, subsequently it is seen that Maggie goes to war with an increasingly brutal bureaucracy, in a series of struggles against the established system that take some unbelievably appalling and horrible turns (Maslin 1994). The cruelty and the hopelessness that is faced by Maggie and Jorge has been clearly depicted in a scene where an event takes place in a hospital room and this particular incidence is so wrenching that it makes a nurse cry. "Ladybird, Ladybird" has been described by critics as “extremely upsetting at such moments, fully sharing Maggie's hopelessness and grief. Although a closing title says Maggie's life took a positive turn after the events seen here, the film does little to give credence to that possibility. By the end of the story, her fate has come to seem irremediably bleak, and Mr. Loach has stirred a fierce sense of outrage. The facts presented here are devastatingly cruel. The final impression is that somehow it needn't have been so.” With this film, Ken Loach's intentions are clear; the director wants to denounce how social services and justice handle the case of so-called unfit mothers in Great Britain. There have been observed by many critics as well as social scientists that the character of Maggie as well as that of Jorge can be analyzed on the basis of the Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT). Cognitive-behavioral theories can be best described as a large number of theories or as general category of theories, or a set of related theories. It is believed that these theories have evolved from a number of writings and works which include theoretical writings, clinical experiences, and empirical studies of behavioral and cognitively oriented psychologists. There does not exist any singular definition of cognitive-behavioral theory. “The individual theories are tied together by common assumptions, techniques and research strategies, but maintain a diversity of views about the role cognitions play in behavior change. The hyphenated term "cognitive-behavioral" reflects the importance of both behavioral and cognitive approaches to understanding and helping human beings. The hyphen brings together behavioral and cognitive theoretical views, each with its own theoretical assumptions and intervention strategies.” (Companion Website) CBT aims at targeting both, cognitive and behavioral problems. It aims at ding so through the use of a complete integration of cognitive and behavioral strategies. Cognitive-behavioral research is based mainly on the changes that are observed in the behavioral and cognition patterns of an individual. These changes are observed through rigorous methodologies. Cognitive-behavioral theories provide great flexibility in treatment targets and interventions, sharing a fundamental emphasis on the importance of cognitive workings and private events as mediators of behavior change. Behavioral assessment, operating in the "triple response mode", provides a conceptual model of the functional relationships between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings and provides the necessary background for clinicians and researchers to implement and evaluate intervention strategies. It can be seen that both of the characters, that is, Maggie as well as Jorge have a deep feeling of dissatisfaction against the formal institutions of the British society. Maggie’s character is seen to have faced a childhood that was characterized by turmoil. She faced abuse at the hands of her own father. There was later seen that she was involved in a series of relationships, where she faced violence. She also experiences relationships with men from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds due to which there is seen a sense of distrust in Maggie towards the white social security workers. There is clearly reflected in her character the cognitive and behavioral effects the events of her life have had. Her sense of social behavior is seen to be shaped by her life experiences. This is clearly reflected in the incidence when she visits the burned boy in his foster home late one night. Here she is seen to express surprise that he is already in bed at 8:30. Volatile and quarrelsome, she instantly picks a fight with the foster mother, and then barges in to visit her son. Insisting on changing his bandage, she is so clumsy that she hurts him. Whatever has made Maggie this distraught, the fact is that she has become her own worst enemy. She screams at any authority figure that comes to visit her, badly compounding the communications failure on all sides. The hopelessness that is reflected in her character are seen to the result of her life experiences on her mind and thought process. Her falling in love with Jorge can also be analyzed in this light. He is the first ‘good’ man she has met and she comes together with him as he shows her the hope of maintaining a relationship free from violence and abuse. He provides her the support that she requires to fight the growing sense of despair that she faces. Her personality is characterized by volatile outbursts and she is depicted as a crude person whose emotions are always on the surface. Jorge is shown as the political refugee, whose visa has expired and he stays on in the country as an illegal alien. He is shown to be sensitive to the needs of Maggie, and provides comfort and safety to her. This is what he seeked in the country itself when he came as a refugee. The two are seen to have no faith in the system and in the legal institutions (Burns 1999). The system is depicted as cruel and bureaucratic (Amazon.com). The aversion that both have towards the system can easily be justified given their history and there can be seen how the ‘problem’ could be avoided through a little more careful and sensitive conduction and treatment of the situation. There are parts in the movie when the CBT can be applied to realize why the characters behave and react the way they are shown to. Through careful management of the situation, there could have been avoided a great deal of pain and agony. Thus, the film calls for a careful interpretation and a rearrangement of the existing system so that there is more appropriate supervision and execution of the social security tasks. In conclusion it can be said that every individual is affected by the environment that they find themselves in and the actions, behavior and thought process of individuals are affected by their history and past experiences. But it also cannot be denied that with strategic intervention there can be developed methods through which these problems can be dealt with. The system needs to become more sensitized to the requirement of society. He questions raised by Ladybird, Ladybird are compelling, if not unique. Loach frequently uses film to examine the inadequacies of the British social system, and here we're forced to consider the issue of when a woman is truly incapable of raising a child. While there seems to be reasonable justification for taking Maggie's first four offspring, what happens thereafter illustrates the kind of capricious horror that can occur when those in power don't really understand a situation. References: Allmovies: Review; Ladybird Ladybird, accessed on October 11 2009 at http://www.allmovie.com/work/ladybird-ladybird-133541/review. Amazon.com: Review of the Ladybird Ladybird, accessed on October 11 2009 at http://www.amazon.com/Ladybird-VHS-Crissy-Rock/dp/6303560555. Burns, D.1999: The Feeling Good Handbook. NY: Plume. Companion Website: Cognitive-Behavioural Theories, accessed on October 11 2009 at http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_capuzzi_counseling_3/0,4981,299948-,00.html. Maslin J 1994: Film Review; A Troubled Mother against the Bureaucracy, pub Oct 7 1994 NYT Critics Pick. Read More