What Dreams May Come: Identifying and Addressing Conflict

The film I chose to focus upon for the purposes of this reflection paper is titled What Dreams May Come. I have considered this piece to be my favorite since I first came upon it more than ten years ago, and was pleased to be assigned the responsibility of identifying conflict; as I had not realized that this content existed prior to the completion of this assignment. I had always highlighted the cinematography, emotional attachment of the characters, and progressive ideation of the afterlife when reflecting upon the film. I still value these attributes, though now I am more able to understand that the impetus for the characters’ closeness is often rooted in their ability to properly address conflict.

This film depicts a happily married couple with two teenage children whose lives seem idyllic. They are educated, financially successful individuals who possess a genuine love of both their children and their chosen professions. Tragically, the children are killed in an auto accident at the beginning of the film; leaving both the mother and father (Chris and Annie) to cope with the loss of their children. Annie blames herself for their deaths because she allowed her focus on work to impede upon her time with the children. Four years later, just as Annie is beginning to reclaim her life with the help of her loving husband, Chris is killed in yet another auto accident which is also related to Annie’s job. This unbearable loss creates tremendous inner turmoil which drives Annie to suicide, and thus, to her own hell. The majority of the film is set in Heaven, where the children are blissfully happy, though concerned over their mother’s state. Chris, however, is not sated to just be concerned for her. He is determined to overcome what i...

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...y everyday life.

Works Cited

Blake & Mouton, 1984. "Interpersonal Conflict and Conflict Management." Devito, Joseph A. The Interpersonal Communications Book. Boston: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, 2009. 279-280.

Devito, Joseph A. "Communicating with the Grief Stricken." Devito, Joseph A. The Interpersonal Communication Book. Boston: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, 2009. 175.

Devito, Joseph A. "Relationship Maintenance; Love." Devito, Joseph A. The Interpersonal Communications Book. Boston: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, 2009. 225, 254.

Hocker & Wilmot, 2007, Poole, & Stutman, 2005 Folger and 2007 Cahn& Abigail. "Interpersonal Conflict and Conflict Management." Devito, Joseph A. The Interpersonal Communication Book. Boston: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, 2009. 276.

What Dreams May Come. Perf. Max Von Sydow. 1998.

What Dreams May Come. Dir. Vincent Ward. Perf. Robin Williams. 1998.