Review of the Film,” It’s a Wonderful Life”
/“It’s a Wonderful Life” was not well liked or well-regarded when released in 1946. America was seeking lighthearted distraction from the sacrifice and struggle of the recently ended Second World War. It was a dark film with flashes of brightness and hope at the end.
It wasn’t until the 1970s, when it began to be shown on television, that it developed the huge following that keeps expanding to this day.
The film follows the life of George Bailey, a small-town banker, who has big dreams to see the world but never can leaves his community.
If we dive deeper, we can see that George Bailey is a kind of every man (person). Or as the psychologist Carl Jung would call him, an archetype. That is, someone who stands for a part of our selves that we can all identify with and comes from “The Collective Unconscious.” He posited that we are all linked at an unconscious level and that is why hero stories, creation stories are similar the world over.
If we include John Mosher’s Healing Circle model, which was influenced by Jung, we see that George Bailey is living out what John calls, “a betrayal myth” or a “myth of Joylessness.” Because of psychological wounds he received in childhood he is the archetype of a person who often satisfies the wants or needs of others while not knowing or fulfilling what he wants in life. Therefore, without that connection to his wants he lives without passion or joy and lives a mythology of Joylessness.
We observe George Bailey grow to adulthood and prepare his escape from the sameness of his small town. One crisis after another occurs that prevents him from leaving: His father dies suddenly, and he takes over at the bank. He is ready to leave on his honeymoon but there is a run on the bank (referencing the Great Depression) and so he takes the money for their trip and gives it to the bank customers to ensure the banks survival.
Time continues to pass for George. We see him struggling as he tries to ignore the dreams and travels, he has never done. Later we see those dreams inhabit a part of the family living room. Off to the left you can see a model of a bridge and architectural drawing from his “unlived life.”
Another crisis arises where George’s “Uncle Billy,” who works at the Bailey Savings and Loan misplaces a large bank deposit. Mr. Potter, George’s heartless antagonist, takes advantage of the situation, and calls a bank examiner in to investigate. He then hints that the ensuing scandal will destroy the Savings and Loan and a disgraced George will be sent to prison.
Distraught, he chastises Uncle Billy, and displays his long-suppressed anger by destroying the drawings and sketches of his unrealized life. He shows more passion that he ever has allowed himself. And accessing anger is one the keys to move him through what John Mosher’s Healing Circle calls, a Rite of Separation. He has been stuck in his life and the fire he shows now is an expression of all the disappointments he has felt over the years. He then directs that anger at his children. They end up in tears and his wife steps in and tells him to leave.
He wanders through the town, getting a drink and prays to God for help only to receive a punch in the face from the husband of the schoolteacher he berates on the phone. He ends up on the bridge staring at the turbulent river holding onto the frozen railing preparing to jump to his death. Enter his Guardian Angel, Clarence, who jumps in first knowing that George would save him rather than kill himself. From there Clarence uses his powers to erase George from the memory of all that have known him. As Clarence says, “It’s as if you were never born.” He revisits the town and finds that a nightmarish version now exists devoid of his stabilizing influence. Many people’s lives have been degraded and destroyed by his absence.
Eventually he returns to the bridge where he was going to kill himself and leans on the railing and tearfully prays: “God, I want to live!” As he speaks the work “God” the snow begins to fall and his wish, his want, is granted. His life is restored to what it was. But he has changed.
This is his second healing ritual: A rite of Transformation. George Bailey is now filled with joy and gratitude for all the things he was despising about the town and his life. The Rite of Transformation is about changing one’s beliefs. As he changes the way he sees the town and his life he is transformed from a distraught man ready to end his life to a man glad to be alive. He runs through the town, exulting in seeing the familiar places and cries out, “Hello you old building and loan!” as he passes his workplace.
He returns home and embraces his family and wife. George is wide eyed with gratitude and joy as he witnessed the town’s people enter his home and place in a basket anything they can contribute to help with the shortfall at the bank. This is the next healing ritual from the Healing Circle: A rite of Continuity. This ritual is about uplift, light and the raising up of the individual and the community. He has gifted them with is steadfast service and good heart and they are now gifting him with their kindness and gifts.
He stands there wide eyed and grinning as the townsfolk crowd into his home. All join in to sing, “Auld Lang Syne”. Then his brother leads a toast”: “to my brother George, the richest man in town!” These are the riches of human connection and community goodwill, which George realizes he has in abundance.
The emotions and the warmth of the film’s ending washes away the despair and darkness of the prior scenes. We are all there standing beside George, singing to him and joining in the chorus to affirm our own worthy and full hearts. It is, indeed, “A Wonderful Life”.