Best Picture (to stream) for CORE Self Reflection

Art is a way of self expression and reflection.  We can look to film and music to self-reflect.  While it's midwinter and as we await the award shows we can take away the prize of self reflection and insight from the comfiness of our own couches. So snuggle up with a cozy blanket and look at your streaming que from the movies that came out in 2024. 

Now we will shy away from films like 'The Brutalist' but still give Adrian Brody his roses for his Golden Globe Award.  Still Here, and hope you are too.  We are talking about reflection of “Hard Truths”, but I want to stay down to Earth, but travel to another land.  No, not “Dune 2”.  Stick with me for “Part One.” I know it's tricky, when “All We Imagine is Light,” it’s time to “Sing Sing” because I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. That's right; for you cinefiles and lovers of Broadway alike. I don't mean but do want to zone in on The Land of Oz.  

The winner of the CORE Words goes to “Wicked.”  

We are fans here and spoiler Alert; we're diving brooms first. As we navigate the narrative of The Untold Story of The Wicked Witch of the West, we will reveal plot points of the story as we go over the main character's IFS parts.

Please look at the chart to the right for reference as you read along.

Cue your remote to stream for a rewatch because we're about to venture into the land of Oz and Internal Family Systems the film, “Wicked”!

For starters, you may have noticed Elphaba is, well, green. That's just how she is, as herself.  She is also, as Galinda puts it, 'different.' Her father, school friends growing up and peers at Shiz University see it.  Some like the Wizard and Madame Morible see her for her 'gift.'

Elphaba sees her 'gift' and her green skin as different too. Her roommate, Galinda, is just as pink and she is green; they are opposites on the color wheel, and in their vibes. Off at university, they are all away from their family of origins. Well, except Elphaba who came to care for her sister Nessarose.  We see them navigate college and their dorm experience, which is not quite what they were anticipating. We follow their time in school who are in their journey of understanding their “Parts” as they grow and learn.

At the start of the film, Elphaba loses control navigating the stress of peers and caring for her sister and we soon meet her “firefighter” part, which is one of her protector parts, and she shows great power.  Though many students appear scared, Madame Morible sees her part as something great. We noticed a moment where Elphaba starts to connect with her Self, and her Firefighter part but we also see a sense of the impact of her Manager and Exile part.

One's “exile” part can can develop from experiences like Elphaba's of being teased by other kids, we see a flash back to her having rocks thrown at her by neighborhood kids, but being blamed for your reaction to their behavior/harm.

Elphaba reflects to herself (in song of course) how she anticipates when she meets the wizard, her “whole life will change”. She further reflects how when she meets the Wizard “no one (will) think [she's] strange” and “no father will be not proud of you, no sister acts ashamed”.  Further explaining how she imagines the Wizard will “degreenify” her and how all of Oz will 'love' her when the Wizard of Oz has given her acclaim. She further reflects on her “gift” as a “curse”' inside, showing her Parts work and the impact of the external validation of the Wizard and Madame Morible. This shows she is still in the process of integrating her parts with her Self. 

Madame Morible also decides Elphaba should room with Galinda.  Galinda struggles with navigating sharing their dorm room space.  This is when we also meet Galinda's “Manager” part. She struggles to integrate having a roommate, especially someone like Elfphaba who is so different from her.  She is challenged in her desire for control and order and not “getting her way.”

They both show their Firefighter parts when they reflect on the “confusion over rooming here at Shiz” reflecting on their “loathing.”  Galinda also shows her firefighter part come out when she gets frustrated with Bog and when she sets Elphaba up with a hat as a way to externally exile Elphaba.

Elphaba shows a strong sense of Self when she shows up wearing the hat that she was given as a joke from Galinda, despite her.  This shows growth in her character development, and integration of her Self.  

Galinda further shows her growth in her Self later in the “Dancing Through Life” scene and how embracing your Self can strengthen relationships.

The two bond in their relationship, and they both show their reflection on relationships and being Popular and their Selfs and connection.

This may not be a wild time, but it is serious about the allegories tied to the Animals of Oz. Elphaba finds out ''Something Bad' is happening in Oz and to the Animals.  She senses in her Self that silencing the Animals is wrong and stands up for them but also finds herself faced with her Firefighter part and as Fiyero reflects “why are you always causing such commotion.”

Galinda shows a glimpse of her Exile part when she sees Elphaba and Fiyero on the platform and her internal Firefighter impulsively joins her. They both also appear to be connected with their Selfs when they explore Oz.

Once they arrive, it's not long before Elphaba pays attention to the man behind the curtain and sees right through the Wizard's masking. She engages initially with her Manager part and she reads from the Grimerie (ancient book for the people of Oz) when she is asked to, and her Firefighter part takes over. As Galinda points out, she also struggles to stay calm and is “flying off the handle.”

It's up for debate whether Galinda is able to integrate her Manager Part and Self when she stays back, perhaps her bubble she arrives in years later is still her protective part...Perhaps we are witnessing Galinda becoming Galinda the “Good Witch”.  

The final song shows Elphaba flying high as we focus on her Parts integration.  

Elphaba realizes she is through with “playing by the rules of someone else's game” and integrates her Manager part. This further brings out her Firefighter part when she realizes she was being used for her gift. 

As Elphaba declares as she connects to her Self when she says “It's Me” that the Oz guards are looking for, and says so with pride.  We also see Elphaba gain strength as she uses her Firefighter part to give her strength to fly free. She pauses to reflect and we see a visual acknowledgement of her Exile part in her younger self. As Elphaba integrates her Exile part she is empowered and begins to “Defy Gravity”. She shows awareness of her Self in her outfit and her actions and her ability to “trust [her] instincts” further showing her integration of her Parts and Self. 

Remember, everyone deserves a chance to fly!  Both Elphaba and Galinda show strength as they are both Witches and both “Good” and “Wicked” in their own ways and more importantly true to themselves.  Take some time to self reflect on your own Parts and CORE Self and which is which.

For further viewing, because there's no place like home for streaming on a cold January day in Chicago.  You can reflect on both emotions and parts, watching the classic film The Wizard of Oz and 2024's film Inside Out 2 streaming on a TV near you. 

For further self reflection we recommend reading “No Bad Parts” by Richard Schwartz, and scheduling your next session with one of our clinicians who integrates IFS and other family systems models into their sessions with clients.