Tag Archives: adolescence

Internal Dynamics of Families

17 Again

Title: 17 Again

Date: 2009

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: adolescence, adulthood, divorce, parenting styles, work and family

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: At the age of 17, Mike O’Donnell loved his life. He was the star of his high school basketball team on the verge of getting a college scholarship for playing ball. He also was dating his soul-mate, Scarlet. At the game, Scarlet reveals that she is pregnant with Mike’s child so Mike proposes to his girlfriend. Fast forward 17 or so years, Scarlet has kicked him out of the house for being a poor husband and father and Mike has also lost his job. Mike returns to his high school, the last place he remembers being truly happy. A janitor asks him if he wishes he could be 17 again and he says yes. One rainy night, Mike is driving across a bridge where he sees the janitor about to jump and jumps in after him. After the fiasco, he goes to his high school best friend’s house and realizes he has transformed into his 17-year-old self. The movie follows Mike as he tries to get his wife and children back in his 17-year-old body.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: How does Mike try to parent his children even though they don’t recognize him as their father?

Places to view: Itunes, Youtube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Internal Dynamics of Families

The Notebook

Title: The Notebook

Date: 2004

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: adolescence, conflict management, parent-child relationships, parenting styles, social and cultural influences

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Duke goes to the Nursing home every day to read to an old woman who has senile dementia. The story is set in the 1930’s. The main character, wealthy 17-year-old Allie Hamilton, is spending the summer with her family in Seabrook. At the local carnival, she meets a man by the name of Noah. It wasn’t love at first sight, but it didn’t take long for the two to fall in love. However, Allie’s parents do not approve of Noah due to the fact that he is of a much lower social class than them. Her parents move to New York to separate the two and help Allie focus more on her studies. For the next 365 days, Noah wrote love letters to her, but Allie’s mother intercepted them. Allie had no knowledge that the letters existed. Three years later World War II begins, and Noah enlists himself and Allie works as an army nurse. As a nurse, Allie meets injured soldier, the wealthy Lon Hammond. When the war ends, the two run into each other and go on several dates. In no time the couple has fallen in love and are planning their wedding. Due to his higher social class, Allie’s parent can’t help but approve of their engagement. As they are preparing for the wedding, Allie sees an article that featured Noah. She sets out on a quest to find him to see where her mind is at regarding him. The two start right where they left off, but this leaves Allie more confused than ever. Should she chose the love of her life Noah, or should she go with Lon, someone that she doesn’t love as much but will always be able to provide for her?

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: What type of parenting style do Ali’s parents have? Do you feel that they created good structure for their daughter or they sheltered her too much?

Places to view: ITunes, YouTube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play

Contributor: Krista Hamann

Internal Dynamics of Families

The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Date: 2014

Media type: Film

Format: Complete

Category: Internal Dynamics of Families

Keywords: Adolescence, decision-making, family relationships, family trauma, response to crisis, stress and coping, therapy

Rating: PG 13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Audience(s): High School Age, College Age, Adults, Parents, Couples, Families

Language: English

Film/Episode Summary: Hazel is a teen with cancer. Her mother forces her to go to a support group for other teens that struggles with sicknesses. There she meets a boy named Gus with which she fell in love. As she fights for her life, they go on a great adventure to Amsterdam to fulfill her dreams.

Comments or Recommendations for Teaching: How did Gus’s parents and Halzel’s parents differ in their parenting styles? What do you think drove Hazel’s parents to let her travel across the world with such ailments? 

Places to view: ITunes, YouTube, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play

Contributor: Krista Hamann