Abstract
"Good Will Hunting" is an American movie, which was directed by Gus Van Sant, and was finished in 1997. The film is dedicated to the memory of Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs. The film is included in the list of 250 best films according to IMDB.
The film is devoted to the problem of attachment disorder, that is considered to be a mental disorder resulting from the absence of close emotional contact with parents in early childhood. And how this disorder can be expressed in illegible friendly behavior, aimed at attracting attention.
This film shows how it is important to make right decisions during the life. And how the quality of life may change when a person has an ability to make smart choice. Regarding psychology, the film shows what a life can be like for a person with attachment disorder and how it is important to pay attention to people, who suffer this disorder and what the results may be in the case of applying treatment to such a person.
Protagonist of the film by the name Will Hunting is an ordinary guy, who is twenty years old with very unusual intellectual abilities. He is able to remember the massive amounts of information, analyzing it and making truly great discoveries in various fields of science, especially mathematics. But instead of scientific activity, he spends his life having a good time with friends, and from time to time, gets to the police station because of fights or different kinds of clashes. But soon, due to some certain events his life dramatically changes, in particular, the meeting with a psychologist Sean Maguire.
The drama of the protagonist, who at such a young age knew so much about the life from the books, but has not yet understood the meaning of life by himself. Support comes from the psychologist, who is very intelligent and experienced man, who has seen a lot in his lifetime, the character that was played by unrivaled Robin Williams. Pain, frustration, difficulties - all this psychological moments are shown so easy in this film, that you just get involved into the general course of events. Here, for the real feelings the unimaginable decorations and different kinds of smart inventions are just not needed.
The film shows us an example of a person, who has an attachment disorder. According to the film, the main character Will has all backgrounds to be considered as a person with attachment disorder. He is afraid of strong relationships, he is closed to everything new. Will rejects his love, because he is afraid to be involved in a relationship with the girl he loves. Will is a very talented person, but having such a great potential, he rejects his given by nature exclusive gift, having to spend his life like an ordinary person. Will has a terrific intelligence, he knows more than anyone else of his friends and acquaintances, he is unique, so why did not he use his gift? People who surround Will, do not have such opportunities, they try to tell him what to do, how would they change their lives if they had such talent, but it only makes Will resist, try to merge with the masses and live a simple measured life.
Another evidence that Will has attachment disorder is the fact that is revealed in the end of the movie. It figures out, that as a kid, the main character had issues with his stepfather, who was beating him in a very violent way.
Attachment disorder almost always occurs in connection with roughly inadequate care for the child. This may take the form of psychological abuse or neglect as demonstrated by severe penalties, permanent lack of response to the child's attempts to join the chat or apparent inability to be a parent); or physically abuse and neglect, that is indicated by the constant disregard for the basic physical needs of the child, repeated intentional injury or inadequate provision of food.
Will really has a true gift but he does not have a direction to go. Professor Lambeau is driven predominantly by selfish motives with regard to Will. Sean Maguire is primarily driven by the motives of sympathy: "We need to direct that guy. To help but not manipulate. "
Only Sean was able to get through to Will. Will and Sean have a similar past. They are both from one provincial town. A genius "chronic" dispute between two "boys" from one district. "What books are not trash?" "Those from which hair is stirring."
Will lives in his own little world and is afraid of any change. He shocks people and afraid to say "I love you." Sean also lives in his own world. The difference is that Sean realizes that people are not perfect for each other. For Will all is perfection and he is afraid to destroy it.
Instead of Will, Sean is able to choose whom to let into his little world. Will is only learning it. Will does not trust people but eventually cries in a vest of at the shoulder of Sean.
An interesting thing that people search the help of therapists by themselves. According to the film, Will was brought to the psychotherapist against his will. That is why the treatment of such person should be made in a different way. As a psychotherapist Sean faces a challenge how to get through to the Will. He needs to find psychological means how to get Will on the right side of him. Sean also has to make Will to wish solving of his psychological fears and opening for new. It is the most difficult thing in this situation. If Sean does it successfully Will becomes full and open minded person, free of fears. In the particular situation the outcome of the treatment depends on Sean’s professionalism. I believe he also succeed because was honest and felt the real sympathy to his patient.
As Will had an attachment disorder, he couldn’t let close anybody. That is why he didn’t use his gifts. He is a smart and charming boy but closed to everyone. Will restricted himself in his own world with customary surroundings. He just doesn’t use his brain to make a good impression and make a well disposal. He thinks that he doesn’t need it. But Will is just afraid to let somebody closer because he convinced of being ruin the perfection of the world.
I think the strongest moment of the film is the moment when Sean say to Will that it is not his fault. As a therapist Sean found the heart of the problem. Will was bitten by his stepfather and had a deep pang of guilt coming from the childhood. This moment was the key stage of the treatment which psychologically released Will and made him free of any fears.
