Hello everyone! Women might be especially helpful in answering this question, as I am seeking help from a demographic different than my own.
Basically what is in the title. It's an inpatient mental health treatment facility for traumatized, victimized, abused, and neglected teenage girls. I'm trying to avoid anything you might consider triggering to that demographic (gunshots, sexual violence, excessive cursing, domestic violence, drug abuse, etc.) while also choosing movies that aren't "for babies" as the patients have so aptly put it. I've had great success with girly comedies, especially those that approach the inappropriate topics, but never really cross them. It leads to a great opportunity for discussing how we feel about the characters and the choices they made in a group therapy environment.
Examples of movies that played really well: Clueless, approaches sexual assault but never visually crosses the line, the "sex scene" setup is given to a scene where the audience knows he is gay and it's more of a comedy moment, she ends up with her half brother but its framing in-movie is very clear and opened up an interesting discussion; Legally Blonde, has sexual concepts sprinkled throughout, but the farthest a character actually goes on screen is a hand on Elle's clothed thigh, it's a story of empowerment and believing in yourself; The Devil Wears Prada is, at least to modern audiences, a story of a woman standing up for herself not only against her boss but also her friends, the film makes it clear that she is sexually assaulted in Paris but goes from Andy clearly stating that she is too drunk to say no to Simon (shirtless, but you can see shirtless men at the pool or beach) to her being disgusted by him.
It's a delicate line, but the adolescent girls appreciate the movies that I pick. It is the most cooperative, focused, quiet, and also communicative, I have ever seen them be, and I would love to facilitate that more if anybody has ideas.
Thanks!
