I have given some thought to how the mentally ill are portrayed in films. Mostly it's awful - another way in which our National Stigma Institute continues to pump out vitriol to support discrimination against a biological disease. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" comes immediately to mind. Or "Psycho."But a few films stand out in my mind as sympathetic. A few actually manage to shed a little light into the corners - educating as well as entertaining. So I thought I'd like to share some of my favorites:
A Beautiful Mind - Probably the most powerful look at the functioning life of a paranoid schizophrenic that you'll find. Furthermore it addresses the issues of what constitutes recovery. Russell Crowe was brilliant...
Reign Over Me - This look at Post Traumatic Stress is genuine and sympathetic and Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle are wonderful.
Mr. Jones - Richard Gere stars in a very real portrayal of Bipolar Disorder. Points off for romantic involvement with his doctor, but still really good.
As Good As It Gets - Jack Nicholson (who usually just plays himself) portrays a rather crusty case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in this delightful film. It's all about acceptance, folks.
Off the Map - This one is a little out there, but it shows an intimate portrait of clinical depression even if the characters are... shall we say... different. Starring Sam Elliot and Joan Allen as a couple living a minimalist lifestyle with a precocious daughter and a confused IRS agent in the mix. I found this film realistic in it's interpretation of depression and its impact both on the sufferer and those around him. It's a little bit of a fairy tale, but I enjoyed it.
I'll try to think of more.
2 comments:
Hi! What do you think about "Girl Interrupted"? Or have you seen it? I really liked it, although there is a lot of negative potrayal of the mentally ill in there and some weird thing going on.
--Tasha
Oh ya, the one I'm really curious to hear your views on is "Fight Club." That guy was super intellegent :)
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