Finding Hope in Grief: Analyzing ‘The Lovely Bones’

by KeeKee Wilson

The loss of a loved one can be tragic and hard to cope with. The 2009 film The Lovely Bones, directed by The Lord of the Rings' Peter Jackson, stars Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Rachel Weisz, and Rose Mclver. The film follows Jack (Mark Wahlberg) and Abagail Salmon (Rachel Weisz) as they attempt to overcome the tragic loss of their daughter, Susie (Saoirse Ronan).

The Lovely Bones revolves around the murder of Susie Salmon and how her parents heal from the loss. Susie was a 14 year-old girl who lived in Norrisown, Pennsylvania with her mother, father, and sister. People from her neighborhood and school saw her as young, wise, and naïve.  On December 6, 1973, Abagail and Jack lost their daughter. As Susie was taking her usual shortcut through the cornfield home from Fairfax High School, she was approached by her neighbor, George Harvey (Stanley Tucci). He led her to an underground hideout in the cornfield that he built specifically for trapping, raping, and killing her. 

In the afterlife, Susie sends signs and messages to help her family solve her murder. Susie’s sister Lindsey (Rose Mclver), begins to have serious doubts about Mr. Harvey as the investigation progresses. Out of eagerness, she broke into his home and discovered a hidden journal that detailed the plot for Susie’s kidnapping and murder. As they discover what happened to their daughter, they start to accept the loss and move on. Susie’s family members, despite the tragedy that has befallen them, found ways to heal and rebuild their lives.

Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon in The Lovely Bones

This movie has taught me that even though you may go through something tragic, you have to learn to heal and move on. In the film, Susie’s death affected her family greatly, causing a change within their relationships. After a long period of grief and sorrow, her family healed and learned how to accept the reality of the passing of their daughter. Healing after a tragedy is difficult, but can provide independence and peace of mind. Focusing on the negatives in life can have a detrimental impact on your mental health. Depression, anxiety, disruptive behaviors, and a host of other ailments can be traced back to poor mental health. On their website, Mental Health America provides information about mental health, including treatment resources.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 or chat online to connect with a trained crisis counselor. It is important to discuss your mental health. Talking with family and friends can also help better your mental state. In addition, journaling is a way to better your mental health; it helps you organize your thoughts, express yourself, and process and deal with your emotions. Moving on from the loss of a loved one or any tragic event may be hard; though, it is important to for the sake of your mental health, peace of mind, and emotional state.

The Lovely Bones can be streamed on Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix.