Representation of Guilt Psychology and Healing in Redford's Ordinary People

Abstract

The movie Ordinary people is a 1980 American drama film that represents the contemporary problems most of the American middle class family and adolescent were facing. This movie deals with the aftermaths of an affluent middle class family’s tragedy trying to return to normal life after the death of one elder teenage son, Buck, and the attempted suicide of their younger son, Conrad who lives under a cloud of surviving guilt psychology for not being able to save his brother in boat accident. He becomes the victim of psychological trauma who strives to restore the good health. Conrad’s traumatic life and his struggle for healing is the main framework of the movie. The director Robert Redford, through this movie, has presented himself in favor of aloof Conrad who has developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). By presenting Conrad he has artistically sketched the clear cut state of victim (psychological trauma) and also has recommended the treatment for healing, named psychotherapy which is very fruitful for victim of psychological trauma particularly PTSD.