Cinema and education go hand in hand in a pioneering educational project at national level thanks to the documentary feature film “Couples Therapy, directed by Gaizka Urresti. After its success in theaters nationwide -not in vain it was the fifth most watched documentary of the year in theaters- the film makes the leap to the classroom to face an even more important challenge: “to train young people in emotional education, one of the pending subjects”.
This is how Elisa Múgica, scriptwriter, producer and one of the psychologists starring in the film together with Lola Fatás from Zaragoza, explains it. “Cinema is an incredible educational tool. And we have developed a work dynamic working on emotional and psycho-affective communication in the classroom through it”, adds the expert. Among other things, the project consists of a pedagogical guide for the improvement of emotional well-being, the development of empathy and non-violent interpersonal communication.
In addition, it is an activity recommended by the Department of Equity of the Regional Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of the Government of Aragon within the activities framed in the State Pact against Gender Violence. in the development of the plan of Equality and prevention of Gender Violence in non-university educational centers and oriented to Secondary, Baccalaureate and FP.
Thus, cinema takes action with a project that aims to reach all of Spain. and which was presented nationally at the Emotional Well-being Day of the Ministry of Equity on June 11. “We wanted to start here, at home, but the goal is to reach all the Autonomous Communities,” she stresses.
PRESENTATION IN ZARAGOZA
In order to bring this proposal to the educational community, next November 8, at 6:00 p.m., the presentation of the project will take place at the Rioja hall of the Patio de la Infanta, in the Aragonese capital. There, with the teachers of the Aragonese schools as guests of honor, a red carpet will be organized, along which some of the protagonists of the film will also parade. “Together we will enjoy the screening of the film and a discussion with them and the director about the different situations experienced by our couples,” said Múgica. The event will conclude with a photocall and a tasting.
After this first event, teacher training will begin so that teachers will be the ones to take this guide to the classrooms. “It will take place in Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel, on demand, to facilitate access to these contents to all the centers of the community and teachers and to support them in their essential work in the human formation of students. The entire population of Aragon and Spain passes through the classrooms. Providing resources to these education professionals is invaluable for social change and the implementation of a non-violent communication model in society”, concludes Múgica.
CARING FOR LOVE IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH
In “Couples therapy”. Marwan and Rozalén embark on a journey to try to answer the universal question, “What is love?” In this journey, five real Aragonese couples receive therapy for 6 months to find each other again following the steps of the first international research in Spanish of these characteristics that scientifically concludes that taking care of love improves mental health. Together they try to deepen in a technique developed 25 years ago in the United States by the Canadian doctor Sue Johnson: Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT).
This is a production of Urresti Producciones with the collaboration of Aragón TV and the support of the Fite Funds, subsidized by the City Council of Zaragoza, the Diputación de Zaragoza and the Government of Aragón. For more information visit www.terapiadeparejaslapelicula.com