Finding Joy in Tough Times in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

After this tough year, It's A Wonderful Life felt like the perfect movie to end the year on. George Bailey goes through some really tough times, but het gets through them.

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright share some tips we can learn from George on how to get through the difficult things life throws at us. Because if 2020 has taught us anything, it's that hardship is pretty universal. But when we can help each other out, like Jimmy Stewart's character did for so many people who later returned the favor, it makes it easier to handle the hard times.

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Cinema Therapy is:
Written by: Megan Seawright, Jonathan Decker and Alan Seawright
Produced by: Jonathan Decker, Megan Seawright & Alan Seawright
Edited by: Alan Seawright
Director of Photography: Bradley Olsen

[madeleinereads]

I went to a Catholic high school, and my sophomore year, we took Intro to the Bible. At the end of the school year, even though it wasn't Christmas, my teacher showed us "It's A Wonderful Life." She told us that she showed it to her students every year. She said, "My life is wonderful because you were all in it. You are a part of my life." I cry, thinking about it.

[azmonbored]

Some people think the last part is unrealistic. My grandfather passed away last year and it wasn’t just his family mourning. The entire town stopped for the day to mourn him. My mother would tell me he would give his food to his workers who could have a tortilla for lunch. He gave them his frijoles and tomatoes. He and his wife my grandmother every year invited people on harder times to have dinner with them for the holidays it was like 50 people or more in a house. I remember that about my grandpa. This year has been horrible, I’ve been unemployed all year and I finally got a job but only as a seasonal and they told me my last day is the (30th) I forgot how kind and compassionate this movie was and romantic. It makes me feel a little better. I hope the next year will be better for all of you. I hope it’s better, in everything.

[rmy_Youtube]

I love that Alan cries majority of the time! It's brave to be open enough to show emotion for anyone but epecially as a man. Another great video guys!!!!

[TheSchaef]

One scene I liked that wasn't covered in this film, and I had missed myself for a long time until I was all growed up. When he's blowing up at his family on Christmas Eve, there's a moment where he pauses in the foreground and then just trashes the writing desk in front of him.

What I didn't notice at first was that he's standing there looking at these model buildings and bridges and all these drawings he had made. They never show him doing this in the film, but all the architect stuff he talked about at the start, he kept reaching for that even when all this stuff was happening in his life. He kept dreaming about building cities of the future. And in that moment he saw the last of his dreams for his life being ripped away. And so he destroys the things he had been working on in his private time, that last little piece he had been clinging to. And it's heartbreaking.

[sararuiz]

The emotion from George Bailey is real because it is James Stewart playing it. This was his first movie he made after coming back from world war 2.

[korkoasgaming]

One thing I think is important to note: You mention at the end how "Sam is finally good for something" in reference to him wiring up to $25, 000 to George. Sam was always trying to do right by George. Every chance he got he offered George investment opportunities, jobs, quality time together away from George's problems. But, and this speaks to Point 6, George never let anybody help him before this. His stubbornness and pride led to his uncompromising attitude in regards to his future plans, and it's very possible that his life would have been much better if he had let Sam help him before. So I think it's just a little unfair to say that Sam Wainright is 'finally' good for something. His offer of (in todays money) over $400, 000 for his childhood friend is just the capstone of a lifetime of attempts at helping and connecting with his friend.

Absolutely phenomenal review in every ohter aspect though, I just think Sam deserves a little more credit for trying!

[lostschedule]

I'm not crying. You are crying. Ok, we are all crying. Merry Christmas!

[slashandbones]

This might sound weird but I have grown to like this film a lot more as an adult because the ending isn't as "happy" as most people think. To refence Albert Camus' "The Myth of Sisyphus", this isn't a story where a Christmas miracle solves all his problems. This is a story where a man rediscovers the will to keep pushing the rock up the hill. While there is magic to the story, what it gives him is a chance to make a human choice.

[tracyroweauthor]

No matter how many times I watch this movie (and it's been many, many times) that last scene always leaves me crying, especially when Harry says, "to my brother, the richest man in town!" It's such a beautiful moment.

"Let others help you"
When I lived in California in the 90s, I was going through some difficult times financially. I had a friend who was married to a successful actor. She would always offer to lend me money but my pride wouldn't allow me to accept until finally, I reached a point where I had no choice. I needed to borrow $350, which may not sound like a lot, but was a lot to me. She gladly offered it to me and asked me to meet her for lunch. During lunch, she went to hand me a check but she told me there was a condition--that I consider it a gift that didn't have to be paid back (this is leading somewhere, I promise).
Of course, my pride couldn't allow that. I told her no, I would definitely pay her back. Then she said to me, "do you like giving gifts?" I said yes and she asked me why. I told her because it gave me joy. She said, "Why would you deny me that joy?"

I was stunned. I had never thought of it that way before. When we turn down an offer of help in the form of a gift, we're denying the giver joy. Now, when someone offers me a gift (that inwardly I either don't think I deserve or am too proud to accept) I remember what she told me and I accept graciously. There's joy on their faces every time.
Let others help you. It gives them joy.

[JaneDoe-yyhs]

Look for the helpers. That's what Mr. Rogers said;

“My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers — so many caring people in this world.”

[ThatWeirdoSings]

Definitely can't wait to watch this one, sometimes the holidays aren't the most wonderful time of the year for some..

[lindseysquire]

Jonathan's mother (may she rest in peace) as Alan and Jonathan are filming: What are you doing down there?
Jonathan: He's making violent love to me, Mother

[therach]

“Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.” Just READING that quote makes me g\tear up... nevermind the ugly sobbing when I'm actually watching. This is my favorite Christmas movie by a MILE because (along with the birth of Jesus Christ and all of that, which does not apply to everyone) this movie is the meaning of Christmas.

[Cheryltwin]

The lesson I take away from this is that the man thought he was a failure and discovered he wasn't. I watch this movie all the time, not just at Christmas. At the beginning of the film, when Clarence asks Joseph "Is he sick?" and Joseph responds "Worse. Discouraged.", that's the first time I cry at this movie. Discouragement, even more than depression sometimes, gets to people and makes them think about ending it. There are just too many beautiful scenes in this film for me to mention, but I really love the part where Mary has her arms around George and she tells him this was her wish when they were throwing rocks at the house years earlier. I get a lump in my throat the size of an onion when that scene comes on.

[amandamaple]

Jimmy Stewart was feeling genuine anger and was dealing with PTSD from his time in the military. He was a wonderful actor and person.

[looney]

I watched this film for the first time this year, and I was struck by just how relevant George's struggle is today; particularly the scenes where he's a bright eyed young man that wants to see the world and get an education. It's the millennial struggle. Potter is as relevant today as he was back then. The film was suspected of anti-capitalist propaganda, but really it's just depicting the struggle of being a working class person; the same struggle that has always existed. Such a beautiful, heartbreaking yet optimistic film.

[faithfinch]

I’ve always noticed (at 17:10 for example lol) that Potter has a portrait of himself in his office, meanwhile George has a picture of his father. Not to say that you shouldn’t look at yourself in a good light, or that you should idolize your parents lol. But it always struck with me that Potter only thought of himself, meanwhile George and Mary always held George’s father’s ideas about loving and taking care of other people

[nicoleclesi]

Alan: "I am not a sentimental person."

Also Alan: Cries almost every episode of Cinema Therapy.

[sarahstewy]

This is my dad’s favorite Christmas movie and he cries every time, I can’t wait to watch this with him!!!

[strngenchantedgirl]

For whatever reason people have forgotten how dark Capra movies are. They remember them as being schmaltz and overly sentimental. But really they are all stories of ordinary people fighting against the darkness of the world like greed, corruption, cynicism, depression etc.