Therapeutic Screens

While the increased exposure to screens raises numerous concerns, nearly renewed with each technological revolution, several studies highlight the ability of certain cinematic parameters (from sound design to editing rhythm, and even framing beauty) to immerse audiences in a genuine state of relaxation.

Thus, some works are capable of fostering the well-being of viewers and may contribute to a form of cine-therapy. Based on research combining cinema and well-being conducted by the Laboratoire CinéMédias since 2019, the films selected for this program have been carefully chosen for their distinct therapeutic qualities.

Emphasizing nature, these films encourage the audience to pause and immerse themselves in the sensory qualities of an environment often overlooked. In films like Akeji, The Breath of the Mountain and Nénette, the amplified soundscape acts as a revealer, drawing our auditory attention to the details and textures of our surroundings, creating a meditative state for the viewer. Furthermore, contemplative works such as Blue by the renowned Apichatpong Weerasethakul, or Where the Trains Used to Go and A Year Along the Abandoned Road by Norwegian filmmaker Morten Skallerud, introduce a haptic dimension—a “tactile” way of seeing and knowing that directly engages the viewer’s body and senses—potentially affecting the audience in a way similar to a mindfulness meditation exercise.