As the Stockholm Syndrome is seen in films

Psychological deviations and ailments have always been in service not only with medical representatives, but also with creative personalities. So, films about Stockholm syndrome reveal the disease from different angles. The views of individual directors on this situation are presented in various films. You can see the list of films about Stockholm Syndrome in this article.

What is Stockholm Syndrome?

Stockholm Syndrome is a protective-unconscious traumatic relationship (which can be either mutual or one-sided) that arises between the victim and the aggressor as a consequence of violence, abduction, the use of threats and other things. Because of the experienced strong emotions and stress, the hostages sympathize with their offenders and even justify their actions, identifying the villains with something beautiful and good. Often the phenomenon occurs in married couples, when one side is stronger and does not hide its dominance (outbreaks of domestic and sexual violence).

Most researchers and scientists are of the opinion that hostage identification syndrome is not a psychological disorder or disorder. Many define the described factor as a normal adequate human response to a highly traumatic psyche situation. While therapists debate about this, the directors draw parallels between the disease and love in films about the Stockholm syndrome.

As it was in the twentieth century

After World War II, the problem of the described deviation was no longer hidden and was openly raised in various fields. In films about the Stockholm syndrome, all the conditions for the occurrence of the disease and the consequences (both good and tragic) are clearly described.

1. The Night Porter (1974). The work of Liliana Cavani in those days caused unprecedented excitement and desperate debate of critics. This is not surprising, because the picture is filled with scenes of sexual violence without any censorship. The plot tells how a former Nazi executioner and a prisoner of a concentration camp randomly meet in Vienna. Then a flame flashes between the characters: and it's not about hatred, but about sympathy.
2. The Fugitives (1986). The comedy of Francis Weber is very optimistic about the phenomenon under investigation. Everything revolves around the criminal-loser Pignon, who decided to take the experienced robber Luke hostage. As a result, the villains and the daughter of the first became best friends.
3. Buffalo 66 (1998). Well, Vincent Gallo in his own drama revealed a new vision of the syndrome. Now the protagonist Billy Brown has served several years in prison due to someone else's fault and wants to take revenge. And between the plans of revenge, Bill kidnaps the girl and gives her as his wife in front of her parents.

But films are not only invented plots. These are also situations taken from life that are sometimes terrifying.

Based on real events

Here is a list of films about Stockholm syndrome based on real stories:

1. Dog Midday (1975). The drama, shot by Sidney Lumet, is marked by many nominations and awards. The film tells about the life of a Vietnam war veteran named Santino. The young man has a family and a lover. For the sake of the guy on the side of Santi decides on a sex change operation. But this requires money. Then the two criminals decide to rob the bank.
2. “3096 Days” (2013) - directorial work of Sherry Horman. The plot is based on the story of a ten-year-old girl, Natasha Kampush, who was abducted by technician Wolfgang Priklopil. For eight years, the girl served the kidnapper and became his mistress.
3. "Cleveland Captives" (2015). Michelle Knight is a woman trying to find work. When she succeeds, the young lady for some reason does not replace. The answer lies in the fact that the heroine was kidnapped by Ariel Castro - a terrible rapist.

And this is not all films about the Stockholm syndrome, which have become a reflection of real events.

Modern

Speaking about this phenomenon, one cannot fail to give a list of modern films about the Stockholm syndrome:

• "Tom on the Farm" (2013) with Xavier Dolan and Pierre-Yves Cardinal in the lead roles.
• Cloverfield 10 (2016) directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
• “V” means Vandetta "(2006) - the dystopia of James Maktyg. The mask from the film has become a real symbol of protest movements in the West.
• King Kong (2005).
• Ghosts of Goya (2006).

Cinema every year more and more turns to this topic. Directors are trying to reveal all sides of the coin. But how to look at the fact that even in fairy tales there is a vivid example of the Stockholm factor?

Story

“Beauty and the Beast” is not just a story about a princess who loves books, and about a beast that used to be a prince. No, this is a wonderful demonstration of the Stockholm syndrome from an optimistic and romantic point of view. Here the hostage extremely well influences the criminal and reveals positive qualities in the aggressor.

The film crew opens up for each viewer different scenarios and the consequences of this ailment, which broadens the horizons and partially changes the attitude towards rejection. Thus, the Stockholm syndrome in films helps to more deeply penetrate this state and understand what the victims are experiencing.