Running on Empty

8.5/10

The social background of this movie is in post-Vietnam War period. Hence, based on Bronfenbrenner's Ecological theory, we could notice that each of their systems keeps changing.

The impact of an unstable and changing systems worth discussing.

According to Murray Bowen, a family should be seen as a system or a unit rather than individuals. The interaction between any two family members are influenced by another family member as well. We can observe the interaction between the father, Arthur Pope (Judd Hirsch) and the eldest son, Danny (River Phoenix) is actually influenced by the mother Annie (Christine Lahti). Let's imagine, what if there're only the father and son in the family, is it possible that Arthur will let Danny go in the end of the movie?

There are eight concepts under Murray Bowen's family system theory. 

We can realize that Danny is developing his differentiation of the self in this movie. He started to realize that he wanted to be independent. He could be his own person. Triangles are happening in the relationship between his mother, his father and himself. The interaction between any two family members influence another one. 

Family Projection Process could be observed through the movie. Arthur feared of being caught by the FBI, so he also projects his fear on Danny.

I could feel the pain and struggles at the last scene of this movie. I could find the similarity between my father and Arthur. Both of them are sometimes lovely, but sometimes being authoritarian. He would let you go when you require to change and he thinks you need to. Leaving from the closest people is always painful, but they're just physically leaving, not emotionally detaching.