social work on screen

From @disney @pixar Burrow is a great film for teaching about the value of community! This animated story centers on a lone rabbit who is intent on building the home of his dreams. But instead of asking for help from his soon-to-be-neighbors, he goes it alone and encounters many obstacles along the way. When he accidentally causes a flood to nearly wipeout the whole neighborhood, the rabbit has no choice but to seek assistance, and the community rallies together to save the day and help the rabbit build a home even better than he imagined. I used this film as an introduction to my Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities course and it sparked a lively discussion about entering communities, the functions a community fulfills, and the interconnectedness of community members. This touching film is a great reminder to ask for help when we need it! Written & directed by Madeline Sharafian. Length:6 minutes, available from @disneyplus . . . . #disneypixar #animatedshort #shortfilm #community #communal #oscarnominee #helpseeking #interconnected #ittakesavillage #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent https://www.instagram.com/p/CPbjOOADc5G/?utm_medium=tumblr

Why hello there! I’m thrilled you’re here, reading this little introductory post and following along for my social work film recommendations! It’s been almost two months since I created @socialworkonscreen, so I figured it’s time I introduce myself to you all (or at least, whoever has made it this far into this caption - thank you!) I started creating this content after searching for (mostly short) films I could share with the MSW students I have the privilege of teaching at @fordhamgss . I have always been a cinephile, and I love engaging my students through media-based storytelling. I also do research on media interventions in social work practice (micro, mezzo, and macro), so I’m passionate about exploring the many intersections between film/media and social work in all that I do. Prior to my work in academia, I practiced community-level social work in Guatemala and Chicago, and was an expert contributing writer for @mswcareers . Out of the more than 100 articles I wrote for their site, a piece sharing my recommendations of ten documentaries for social workers was one of the top performers! So it seems to me there are a lot of social workers and other social justice oriented folks out there who, like me, are interested in watching stories with a social conscience. Feel free to send your film recs my way! To share a little more about how I got here: I started making media in high school, and I studied documentary film in undergrad because I wanted to use media to advance social justice. Then, I slightly shifted course and got my MSW, as well as my MA in women’s studies and gender studies, and then my PhD. While my career has had many twists and turns, my deep appreciation for the power of storytelling and film to make a positive social impact has persisted through it all. I started this account to share my recommendations for films that are relevant to social work (and other helping professions) and hopefully connect with likeminded people who are interested in watching, making, learning from, discussing, critiquing, and leveraging media for social good! So, what was the last film or TV show that made a positive impact on YOU? . . . #media #socialwork https://www.instagram.com/p/CPJeKuLjACr/?utm_medium=tumblr

In an expert use of dark comedy, this film offers a complex portrayal of an adoptive mother who must confront her own biases in order to be the supportive parent she wants to be. The mother in this story suspects that her adopted Asian son is gay, but struggles to broach the subject with him and fears for his safety out of a mix of motherly love, ignorance, and her distorted views of the LGBTQ community. This film offers an insightful perspective on family conflict, and the ways that differing identities and biases within the family system can impact family relationships. Written by Antti Toivonen, Directed by Teemu Niukkanen, 2019. Length: 12:20, available on @shortoftheweek https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2021/01/25/are-you-hungry/ . . . . #lgbtq #adoption #bias #darkcomedy #shortfilm #parenting #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #counselor #counseling https://www.instagram.com/p/CO3NyFiDMON/?igshid=1h7dnleua01zj

This short documentary allows Nick, a father of two, to share his story of surviving child abuse in his own words. After being abandoned by their father, Nick and his two brothers suffered extreme physical, emotional, and verbal abuse from their stepfather, causing significant trauma with lifelong consequences. After having two sons of his own, Nick began to make sense of and heal from his experiences in new ways. Ending the cycle of abuse in his family, Nick chooses to be the father he wishes he had for his two young sons. This film is a moving example of the enduring effects of childhood trauma, the incredible strength and resilience it takes to survive and disrupt abuse, and the healing power of love and family. Directed by Jason Hanasik, 2020. Length: 13:04, available from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2020/jan/17/a-childhood-on-fire-documentary-video . . . . #childabuse #breakthecycle #fatherhood #childhoodtrauma #adversechildhoodevents #healingfromtrauma #documentary #shortfilm #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent https://www.instagram.com/p/CO07Gyzj5kM/?igshid=1nzaywv6rxvnp

This grippingly realistic film shows the tensions and emotions that surface in a family impacted by addiction, and the value of the family as a support system. The film is anchored by Michael, a young white man struggling with alcohol abuse. His sister and father stage a family intervention to get him the treatment he needs, but Michael’s newly adopted dog, Floyd, complicates the situation. Michael convincingly captures the evasiveness, secrecy, and guarded suspicion that a person suffering from alcoholism might display in this situation, while his sister and father show their care and concern for Micheal in spite of the strain his addiction has created in their relationships with him. This film is a poignant reminder of the importance of family support when battling addiction, and the tolls that this disease takes on the family system. Written and directed by Erin Sanger, 2017. Length: 13 minutes, available on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/291282571 . . . . #addiction #alcoholabuse #rehab #treatment #familysupport #intervention #shortfilm #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #counselorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/COtVoyIDVqK/?igshid=ythy2qhcaaz0

This short film from Canada centers on a family of three - a single working mother and her two daughters, one of whom has Down syndrome. With limited family support, 16-year-old Alex often helps her mother care for her disabled sister, which sometimes interferes with her ability to live the life she wants. This film explores roles and responsibilities in one family system, and the sacrifices family members make for one another. A film by Florence Lafond. Length: 12:10, available on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/471054854 . . . #downsyndrome #disability #sisters #familyresponsibilities #caretaking #shortfilm #disabilityawareness #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #socialworklove https://www.instagram.com/p/COlP1SLD2tP/?igshid=1wned3vdxsb7d

Words cannot do justice to the beauty and power of this incredible feature documentary from @garrettgarrettbradleybradley. @timemovie tells the inspirational story of @foxandrob demonstrating the depth of their love, the strength of their commitment, and the beauty of their family, which refused to be broken by the cruel and racially-biased system of criminal justice in this country. Years of home video footage, intimate scenes of daily life, and incredible black and white imagery of a joyous reunion bring to life an inspiring and resilient family torn apart by incarceration. I’ve recommended this film to all of my friends and students - please watch and prepare to be transported by the intense emotion and beauty of this work of art. Directed by Garrett Bradley, 2020. Length: 1 hr 20 min, available on Amazon Prime. . . . #criminaljustice #documentary #featurefilm #oscarnominee #blackandwhite #familyresilience #raceinamerica #blacklove #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent https://www.instagram.com/p/COicIhPj9jQ/?igshid=oc7zlun4eh4u

This short documentary peers inside the largest retirement community in the US - a so-called “utopia” that tries to hide the problems it suffers from and creates. The Villages is in Florida markets itself as a Disneyland for retirees, but its rapid expansion has all but wiped out the existing communities in the area. Just outside the gated Villages, a girl shares her experience of life on the “island of misfits” beyond the Vilages’ domain, where her family refuses to be bought out. Inside the Villages, geological disaster threatens the retirement community’s survival, but the stories of these dangers often go untold. This is an excellent film for sparking conversation about how we define community and what it means to form one, shedding light on the relationships between aging, gentrification, displacement, and social cohesion. Directed by Lance Oppenheim, 2021. Length: 7:24, available from NY Times OpDocs: https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000007491019/the-paradise-next-door.html . . . . #florida #retirement #community #retirementcommunity #gentrification #displacement #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #documentary https://www.instagram.com/p/COdPZ3vj0my/?igshid=df8p4g6fzpw6

Centering on a teenaged girl who is a talented wrestler like her father, this film shines a light on sexism in sports and the complexities of father-daughter relationships. As the only girl on the wrestling team, the central character is disrespected and devalued by her male teammates and treated unfairly in her wrestling match. Bur she resolves to do her best to show her father, and her self, that she’s a winner. This film reminds us that even the strongest teenage girls need parental love and acceptance. Written and directed by Olivia Newman. Length: 13:21, available from @shortoftheweek https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2018/04/02/first-match/ . . . #wrestling #fatherdaughter #sexisminsports #teenager #sexism #shortfilm #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #counselor https://www.instagram.com/p/CObB9iLDzys/?igshid=1eyvpf1wp5xc4

Narrated by the adult version of its central character, this nostalgic short film reveals a boy’s struggles with bullying at school and his dad’s battle with cancer at home. After moving to a new state to help his father’s health, Charlie faces ridicule from his peers at school. Not wanting to burden his parents with any more worries, he tolerates the bullying, while trying to focus on what he can do to help his dad survive. This film emphasizes the way that difficulties in the family impact one boy, who is fighting his father’s battle as well as his own. Written by Neville Kiser, Directed by Mark Columbus, 2014. Length: 11:53, available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am5GhmBoX8Q . . . #bullying #cancer #famliytrauma #adversechildhoodevents #shortfilm #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #counselor #latino https://www.instagram.com/p/COX6ZL7DxaF/?igshid=1nmuarjj28zk7

This short documentary is an endearing look at children across the UK engaging in play - an activity central to their healthy development. Focusing on children in their natural, uninhibited state as they interact with one another, the film is sure to make you smile as it highlights children’s imagination and creativity in inventing and playing games. As youth services and programs are increasingly de-prioritized in the UK (and elsewhere) this film reminds us of the significance of play in the lives of young children, and the need to protect safe opportunities for them to do so. Directed by Charlotte Regan, 2020. Length: 13:39, available from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2020/oct/08/no-ball-games-life-and-play-through-the-eyes-of-children-across-the-uk-documentary . . . . #childhood #play #youthservices #children #youth #shortfilm #documentary #shortdocumentary #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent https://www.instagram.com/p/COTWYjQj3oJ/?igshid=12tzr0qo7c6xz

Told through the perspective of a young boy, this short documentary focuses on a Latinx family’s transition from a mobile home to a new apartment. The film’s main character, eight-year-old Geovany, takes us inside his home environment, filming his family and friends with his own camera and narration. Despite the difficult circumstances in which they live due to income inequality and a lack of affordable housing in the Silicon Valley area, the film shows the joy, unity, and love in the daily life of Geovany’s family and the mixed feelings associated with leaving their close-knit mobile home community on Crisanto Avenue (which Geovany calls Crisanto Street). This heartwarming documentary offers a strengths-based view of a low-income Latinx community, and emphasizes the need for affordable housing opportunities to support low-income families. Directed by Paloma Martinez, 2018. Length: 11:42, available from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2018/dec/18/crisanto-street-a-child-living-in-a-mobile-home-in-silicon-valley-video . . . #housing #affordablehousing #lowincomefamilies #Latinx #Latinofamilies #SiliconValley #incomeinequality #mobilehome #shortfilm #documentary #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/COQ7w8UjLDU/?igshid=1mmn9s3d0thug

This short narrative film reveals how one social worker navigates the ethical dilemma she faces when her client’s preferences go against the mandated responsibilities of her profession. In a not-so-distant future, a social worker visits a rural family as part of a campaign to apply government-issued “happy patches” to children, giving them micro-doses of medication in an effort to protect their “right to be happy.” But 4th-grader Kayleigh doesn’t want a happy patch, preferring instead to regulate her negative emotions on her own through imaginative play. The social worker makes a compelling case for the micro-dose intervention, touting it as an important means of protecting Kayleigh’s mental health as she enters adolescence, but Kayleigh helps the social worker realize the value of experiencing a range of human emotions. This is an excellent film for inciting discussions about the best interests of children, the ethical quandaries social workers may face when clients are not compliant with mandated treatment, the impact of technological interventions on human services, and the future of social work. Written & Directed by Ryan Patch, 2020. Length: 12:05, available from @thinkshorts: https://thinkshorts.com/15806/regulation . . . . #technologyinhumanservices #childwelfare #futureofsocialwork #ethicaldilemma #shortfilm #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #counselor #counseling https://www.instagram.com/p/COL6PeRDr4R/?igshid=18tj3o7y3hwug

@joeybadass stars in this Oscar-winning live action short that focuses on police brutality against Black people. After a nice date ends with a sleepover, a young Black man begins to make his way home where his dog is anxiously awaiting him. Before he gets too far, he’s stopped by a police officer who becomes violent with him, ultimately taking the man’s life. But instead of the after life, he wakes up in the same scenario, trapped in a time loop that forces him to relive the deadly police encounter over and over. After trying everything he can to make the situation go differently, he realizes that no matter what he does, the cop will kill him. This witty, original, cleverly-written film carries a heavy message, showing that a Black man’s skin color, not his actions, is what causes him to be continuously killed by police. Written by @travon Travon Free, directed by @travon Travon Free and @martindesmondroe Martin Demond Roe, 2020 @2distantstrangers . Length: 32 minutes, available on @netflix https://www.netflix.com/title/81447229?s=i&trkid=13747225 . . . . #shortfilm #oscarwinner #joeybada$$ #policebrutality #defundthepolice #racism #liveactionshort #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent https://www.instagram.com/p/COIuUh8j_sz/?igshid=pmumdirow1mz

Through many twists and turns, this emotional story offers a heart-wrenchingly realistic portrayal of how comparing your life to someone else’s can inhibit you from appreciating the life you have. When a couple expecting their third child and exhausted from their role as parents discovers that they can see into their new neighbors’ window, watching them becomes a regular pastime. At first, the neighbors - a young and childless couple - represent the sexual passion these parents no longer enjoy in their partnership due to the constant demands of childcare responsibilities. But their fascination turns to concern when the neighbors’ lives seem upended by the onset of a terminal illness that comes with its own hardships and pain. Ultimately, this film reminds us that the grass is always greener on the other side, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the life you’re living while you can. Written and Directed by Marshall Curry, 2019. Length: 20:37 available from @thinkshorts: https://thinkshorts.com/6220/the-neighbors-window . . . . #youngchildren #familylife #terminalillness #neighbors #shortfilm #oscarwinner #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #counselor https://www.instagram.com/p/CODtFDBjNBn/?igshid=mmqt6gt23eru

Centering on a young activist named Lupita, this short documentary highlights the continued struggle of the Indigenous Maya in Mexico, who offer an inspirational example of a unified movement in resistance of neoliberal policies and in defense of Indigenous rights. In the 1990’s, the Indigenous Maya of Chiapas fought for autonomy from the increasingly neoliberal Mexican state. During a peaceful demonstration in her village of Acteal, Lupita’s mother was murdered by a right-wing paramilitary group in a church massacre that claimed the lives of 45 Indigenous people. Lupita, just a young girl, narrowly escaped with her life. Now, more than 2 decades later, Lupita continues as an activist in the struggle for Indigenous control of their land, leading a new generation of comrades within her community. This film offers an inside perspective on one of the most important Indigenous movements of our time, demonstrating the incredible strength, resistance, and solidarity of the Maya people in their collective struggle for justice. Directed by Monica Wise Robles, 2020. Length: 20:52, available from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2021/jan/05/lupita-the-indigenous-activist-leading-a-new-generation-of-mexican-women . . . #Indigenous #Maya #Mexico #Zapatista #EZLN #Indigenousautonomy #Indigenousrights #communityorganizing #todossomosmarcos #shortfilm #documentary #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers https://www.instagram.com/p/COBemiSDb56/?igshid=kzc3c6wjlwc0

Told with the animation and rhyming narration of a children’s show, this short film emphasizes the prevalence of mental health issues within any community. The film introduces a cast of friendly animal characters who each have unique struggles - Depressed Dolphin, ADHDeer, Anxiety Alligator, and OCD Otter, to name a few. The film offers a quick introduction to a number of mental health issues, with the stated goal of “shining a playful light on mental illness to soften its stigma.” It leaves us with the message that anyone can be impacted by mental illness. Written & Directed by Veronica Padilla, 2016. Length: 2:19, available from @thinkshorts : https://thinkshorts.com/19070/gentle-mentals . . . . #mentalhealth #stigma #mentalillness #animatedshort #shortfilm #socialworkonscreen #socialwork #socialworker #socialworkers #socialjustice #mentalhealth #lmsw #lcsw #therapist #msw #bsw #therapy #socialworklife #socialworkerlife #socialwelfare #socialpolicy #macrosw #macrosocialwork #mswcareers #professorsofinstagram #highered #mswstudent #socialworkstudent #counselor #counseling #psychology https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-w-iaDRjg/?igshid=fb25r3ljn52j