The Descendants and Pastoral Care

Films can explore religious and spiritual questions in many ways. The Descendants (Payne 2011) is a particularly rich narrative in the questions it raises about pastoral care for families who are grieving over the loss of a loved one. A husband is about to lose his wife, and their two young daughters are grieving over the loss of their mother. After this life-changing event, they must choose whether they will grow closer together or face the future without strong ties to their family of origin. If they are not particularly religious, can ritual or scripture still help them cope? What role can the pastoral caregiver play in helping them see God's presence in their lives? © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.