Cinema as a classroom in the health sciences

Abstract

Narrative medicine stands as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in clinical practice, as well as a strategy to deepen the relationship with patients and students. Narrative, usually linked to literature and writing, finds an irreplaceable ally in cinema. Fundamentally, cinema brings us closer to realities that would otherwise be difficult to experience; feelings such as guilt, compassion and forgiveness surface to the point of commiseration. Formally, cinema exemplarily demonstrates aspects of communication that are difficult to convey through other arts, such as paralanguage and body language (with its gestures, proxemics and kinesics). All of this encourages philosophical discussion and deliberation, both of which are essential to our profession. Cinema allows us to approach the different domains of a person related to their identity, orientation and values, all of which are linked to their intimacy. It also allows us to analyse and reflect on complex processes such as death or grief, separation, abuse or loneliness. The seventh art becomes a formative and therapeutic tool upon which to build our clinical encounters, promoting attitudes such as tolerance and non-violent communication, and fostering core elements of motivational interviewing, active listening and empathy… always empathy. In this article, we propose virtuous films that bring us closer to these contexts, realities and emotions.