The Five Stages of Grief (2011)

The Five Stages of Grief Poster

Daniel's father died yesterday. He seems to be totally fine. Luckily his friends can teach him to be miserable.

Intro
"The Five Stages of Grief" is a brief movie directed by Jessica Brickman in 2011. This mentally appealing film is based on the Kübler-Ross model that recommends 5 emotional stages experienced by terminally ill clients after diagnosis: denial, anger, bargaining, anxiety, and acceptance. The movie artistically utilizes this psychological model as a metaphor for a damaged relationship.

Plot Summary
The film starts with a young couple, Dan and Rachel, who have actually just recently suffered a devastating breakup. The scenes creatively mirror the stages of grief, as experienced by Dan.

Rejection
The very first stage, denial occurs straight after their break up. Dan contradicts their separation, he pretends that things are still typical and that Rachel may go back to him. He continues to behave as though he's still part of a couple, causing uncomfortable scenarios, as it appears he is not prepared to deal with reality.

Anger
As truth sets in, Dan shift to the second phase: anger. Here, he hostilely questions why the relationship broke down, blaming it on Rachel and the situations. He grows increasingly discontented and frustrated, and his anger manifests in explosive outbursts.

Bargaining
The third phase that Dan goes through is bargaining. He starts negotiating with his emotions, introspecting if changing his behavior or action could win back Rachel. With a sense of desperation, he tries to restore control over the lost relationship, making fictional deals and promises that he will change and improve.

Anxiety
As his bargaining strategies fail, Dan succumbs to the 4th stage of sorrow, which is anxiety. He withdraws from his regular activities and associates, feeling a profound sense of sadness and sorrow over his lost love. His life appears useless and frustrating without Rachel.

Approval
Approval, the final stage of grief, occurs when Dan lastly understands that the relationship is over and there is no turning back. He finds out to accept the reality of his circumstance and begins to move forward. Although the pain is still there, he positions less concentrate on it. He demonstrates resilience and begins to reconstruct his independent life.

Cinematic Approach
Brickman's film is not just a heartbreaking story of a lost relationship, however it also lends a cinematic lens to a mental design, in a distinct and engaging method. The narrative structure cleverly unfold through the phases of sorrow, offering a fresh point of view on how human emotions progress through a terrible occasion. Each phase of grief is provided its own unique environment and treatment in the film, including nuanced layers to the movie's plot.

Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Five Stages of Grief" is a vibrant portrayal of a guy facing completion of a considerable relationship, theorizing the emotional turmoil through the lens of the five stages of grief. It's an artistic blend of psychology, disaster, and the intrinsic human capability for resilience and approval. An unique cinematic amalgamation that effectively guides audiences through an intense psychological journey brilliantly illustrated by director Jessica Brickman.

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