Movie Investigation: Good Will Hunting - Meaningful Relationships

How important are good relationships?

In the 1997 drama Matt Damon plays a mathematical genius named Will Hunting who lives his life as an underarchiever with a criminal record. As the story unfolds we get to see various relationships that play an important role in Will's life. These relationships aren't exactly characterized by harmony. You could even argue that at times the characters violate and transgress against the principles that are idolized in modern culture and relationship advice. But that is exactly what makes them interesting to analyze. Let's approach them through various questions

1. How important is honesty?
2. Which role does respect play?
3. What are potential boundaries and violations thereof?

I want to look not just at the main relationship in that film, that is the one between Will and his therapist Sean (played by Robin Williams), but also at other characters like his best friend Chuckie. I highly recommend you watch the movie if you have never done that before.

Important scenes

1. Chuckie's Speech
2. It's not your fault
3. Sean's speech by the pond
4. Bar scene
5. Fight with his girlfriend
6. Retainer
7. Birthday gift
8. Baseball Game & Street Fight
9. You're not perfect, she's not perfect

There is also an interesting video from "Cinema Therapy" where a therapist and a film maker discuss the way Sean acts as a therapist in the film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3KCVrBhFps

Agenda

1. An introduction and essay part by me (20-30 minutes) focusing on the main relationships portrayed in the film.
2. An open discussion and Q&A about this topic. You can ask questions about my essay but also expand the domain with your own thoughts. That part I will take anonymous notes on and add to the recording as a summary afterwards.

Join us to find out more.
See you there.