Title: Ballast

Date: 2008

Media type: Movie

Category: Families in Society, Internal Dynamics of Families, Human Sexuality and Health

Keywords: family demographics, stress and coping, conflict management, substance abuse

Rating: NR (R)

Audience(s): College Age, Adults

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: The story of a group of people connected by familial relationships and the small impoverished town they live in try and find a way through all of the hardship. When Lawrence’s brother commits suicide Lawrence is unable to cope and attempt to kill himself. As he recovers Lawrence is unable to return to working at the store he owned with his now deceased brother. Lawrence’s son James who is in his early teens attempts to rob Lawrence to pay drug dealers that he and his mother owe. They are unable to pay and their home is shot up in a drive by, when James’ mother loses her job Lawrence helps by buying them food and giving them a place to stay. Lawrence gives James’ mother a job in his store and the 3 become a sort of family unit, united by their shared hard experiences. This movie deals with drug abuse, mental illness, poverty and homelessness, violence, and unemployment that face many Americans today who live in the poorest areas where opportunities are scarce and crime is high.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: What major societal factors are prevalent in this movie? What roll does the isolation captured in the cinematography play in how mental illness isolates individuals? As the 3 main characters form a sort of family unit the movie leaves us thinking that they have come to a better place than where they started, what does this say about the mitigating facts of kinship on corrosive societal pressures?

Places to view: Itunes

Contributor: Ian Brunzell-Looney