Open Arms? Open Eyes! Power, Control and Abuse in Teen Relationships

Awards

Omni Intermedia Award Winner

National Association of Counties Achievement Award

Endorsed by the Virginia Education Association and the Attorney General of Virginia

Reviews

Highly Recommended  Specifically designed to help teenagers look at types of abuse that may occur in relationships, this film provides extensive information in a brief span of time. Using three fictional scenarios of teen relationships, the film discusses emotional and physical abuse and illustrates how control and power are important components of abuse. The film discusses abuse by creatively using other students to introduce each scenario and to discuss the warning signals that need to be observed. While comments from a psychologist and two real life abuse victims, male and female, effectively add a realistic component, the replay of each scenario with an emotionally healthy and positive thrust, allows students to view what is possible in avoiding abusive encounters. The accompanying guide for teachers is an excellent resource with summaries of the scenes, tests, and fact sheets for students. The energetic music helps the pace of the film and the shifting of scenes.
Although this film is not a part of a series, two additional videocassettes by Human Relations Media (Surviving Peer Pressure and Drama Queens and Tough Guys) will complement this DVD and provide additional information for areas of interest and importance to teenagers. A good choice for junior high and high school collections as well as university and college collections in psychology and social work. Highly recommended!!

- Carolyn Walden, Mervyn H. Sterne Library, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)