Children's Grief Narratives in Popular Films

Abstract

Children's grief narratives, conceptualized as portrayals of the grief process in children, in popular films are examined. Four films focus this study: Snow White, Bambi, The Land Before Time, and The Lion King. These films reflect a range of acknowledgment of death and descriptions of grief in their young characters. They also vary in the extent to which they are consistent with traditional models of grief that emphasize detachment and contemporary models that focus on the importance of ongoing connections with the deceased. These films are consistent in their portrayal of the availability and usefulness of support and comfort for grieving children. They are also uniform in their presentation of possibilities for hope and some forward development after loss. Use of popular films for children's death education and for grief education is discussed.