Death at the Movies: Hollywood’s Guide to the Hereafter

Hollywood is fascinated with death. And many share this fascination, according to authors Lyn Genelli, a marriage and family therapist, and Tom Genelli, a psychotherapist with a Ph.D. in psychology and a background in film production. The authors examine several movies that they dub “film blanc,” a twist on the popular noir genre of 1940s and 1950s films. These films examine the realm between life and death and between the material and spiritual aspects of human existence, seen in such popular movies as The Wizard of Oz, It’s a Wonderful Life, Groundhog Day, Ghost, and The Sixth Sense. Movies such as these acknowledge human beings’ resistance to facing the end of life while also showcasing characters who gain self-awareness through their encounters with death. The authors point to two major themes on which these films capitalize: human anxiety about death and a sense that there is something beyond the material world, an “intuition of the transcendent.” The authors’ analysis draws heavily upon eastern mystical traditions, which provides a unique and potent interpretive lens. Casual fans and film buffs will be encouraged to see these movies again through new eyes. (Sept.)