Have you ever noticed how movies can shape our perception of the world around us? They have the power to transport us to different worlds and evoke a range of emotions. But what happens when these movies tackle the sensitive and complex topic of mental illness?
It becomes clear that cinema holds immense power in shaping public perception of mental health and its impact on our understanding of mental illness in society.
The Joker 2019, a fresh new perspective or a damaging narrative?
The 2019 hit movie, Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, follows the tragic story of Arthur Fleck, who suffers from a mental illness as he attempts to navigate a cruel and seemingly uncaring world.
There are a lot of things that this film doesn't do brilliantly however I thought it struggled to actually address the possible diagnosis Arthur Fleck was struggling with. Maybe not a big deal in the scheme of things, but by not making it obvious, the viewer is left to speculate, with most concluding a psychosis disorder such as bipolar, schizophrenia or borderline personality disorder. However, if we follow the plot of the film, it would indicate that these disorders can be "triggered" fairly immediately after a mental break of some sort, and lead a seemingly passive, shy individual to become a psychotic, aggressive serial murderer, which I find to be a bit far-fetched.
Although it is clear there is a personality disorder at play here, he is incredibly smart and able to disguise his thoughts and delusions something not seen in a psychosis diagnosis, it can be more safely concluded that Arthur Fleck may have both narcissistic disorder as well as having psychopathic traits. At times when we see Arthur uncontrollably laughing, it is probably assumed schizophrenia is at play when in reality we can assume that Arthur suffers from pseudobulbar affect, characterised by sudden, uncontrollable episodes of crying, laughing or both.
At times I found this film incredibly moving and felt that the character's struggle was really relateable and displayed well. I felt it let itself and the viewer down when it jumped into supervillain mode. It wasn't fully explored or acknowledged how he got to this stage and I worried that assumptions would be made by the audience that not only would the mental illness be misinterpreted but also that the wider audience would be inclined to think that mental illness means violence or the inability to control one's actions.
What I think everyone should have taken away from this film, that may have been overlooked was that Arthur Fleck was in complete control of his actions. It was clear he suffered from a series of mental illnesses but his intelligence, willpower and ultimate aggressive tendencies were not a result of the illnesses directly. I hope the film isn't simplified to "My mummy didn't love me and I'm socially awkward so I'm going to go out and kill a bunch of people".
Split: A Thrilling Tale or a Demonisation?
In the realm of controversial portrayals of mental illness in movies, "Split" has certainly generated its fair share of both praise and criticism. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the film tells the story of a man diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), a condition characterized by the presence of multiple distinct personalities within one person. DID often occurs due to trauma and an individual may "hide with themselves" or try and "escape reality" to block painful memories.
While it is true that "Split" is shining a more prominent light on the exploration of understanding of personality disorders and it boasts a wonderful cast of actors, it could be argued that an already misunderstood mental health condition is even more misunderstood and downright misrepresented by Split, creating harmful stereotypes.
In my opinion, if you are going to approach the sensitive exploration of a condition such as DID you need to do it correctly, due to the fact it is rare to see a condition like this depicted on screen, to give false representations can be more damaging as there is nothing else with a high enough profile to compare it to.
One of the primary concerns expressed by critics is that "Split" perpetuates the idea that individuals with DID are inherently dangerous or violent. The film portrays the main characters' various personalities as possessing extreme and often violent tendencies, leading to a heightened sense of fear and unease. This portrayal reinforces the misconception that individuals with DID or psychosis conditions are unpredictable and prone to harming others when in reality they are more likely to harm themselves.
Furthermore, there is a contention that "Split" oversimplifies the complexities of Dissociative Identity Disorder, hard to believe I know, since James Macavoy so brilliantly shifts from all 23 personas.
Split does what it intends, to disrupt, thrill and entice its audience and sometimes be sympathetic, relatable and accurate just doesn't fit the profile of a box office hit. By reducing DID to a plot device for thrills and suspense, "Split" neglects to explore the deeper emotional and psychological dimensions of the disorder, thus missing an opportunity for greater understanding and empathy.
However, it is worth acknowledging that "Split" has also sparked meaningful conversations about mental health. Some argue that the film raises awareness about Dissociative Identity Disorder by bringing it into the mainstream consciousness. It prompts discussions about the reality of living with such a condition and encourages viewers to question their preconceived notions about mental illness. Ultimately am I not writing about this film now? and yes it might be correcting some wrongs but the discussion is still ultimately being had.
Moving forward, it is vital to strike a balance between entertainment and responsible representation when it comes to movies depicting mental illness. While "Split" may have captivated audiences with its suspenseful plot it failed in its responsibilities to a greater cause.
Silver Linings Playbook: Breaking Stereotypes or Romanticizing Mental Health?
"Silver Linings Playbook" tells the story of Pat Solitano, a man with bipolar disorder, as he navigates life after a mental breakdown and attempts to reconcile with his estranged wife. The film received critical acclaim, earning numerous accolades including eight Academy Award nominations and one win for Best Actress. However, it also sparked a debate about whether it broke stereotypes around mental illness or unintentionally romanticized the struggles associated with it.
On one hand, "Silver Linings Playbook" really stepped up when it came to its accurate portrayal of the complexities of bipolar disorder. Exploring the daily challenges faced by individuals living with mental illness, showing the rollercoaster of emotions, the highs and lows, and the impact it has on one's relationships and sense of self.
The characters in the movie are depicted as flawed and multidimensional, breaking away from the stereotype of mental illness being a person's single identity. Pat's struggle to manage his condition is portrayed realistically, and the film recognizes the importance of therapy, medication, and a support system in his journey towards stability. This is great to see in any film featuring a mental illness, it's all too common for the audience to be exposed to the horrors and pain that can come along with an internal mental struggle, but the treatment process is very rarely explored and if it is, it's rather rushed long, with the problem seemingly "fixed" by the end.
However, critics argue that the film falls into the trap of romanticizing mental illness. The relationship between Pat and Tiffany, a woman with mental health struggles, is portrayed as a catalyst for their personal growth and happiness. Some argue that the movie suggests that individuals with mental illness can only find redemption and fulfilment through a romantic relationship, setting unrealistic expectations.
I would argue that this seems to be poking holes in an otherwise well-thought-out narrative. Relationships are built and maintained on effective communication and in my experience, a shared understanding of mental illness can be a good foundation if handled healthily.
I'd like to think that people watching this film have already experienced the reality of romantic relationships and aren't shielded so much that they have a "love solves all" mentality. Anyway, we romance a lot of film and television and I think this "softening" of the story is more about hope than it is about unrealistic expectations because ultimately is does explore treatment options and doesn't wholeheartedly on the idea that love will cure you.
Ultimately, the portrayal of mental illness in "Silver Linings Playbook" is subjective, as it depends on individual perspectives and experiences. While it undoubtedly sheds light on the challenges faced by those with bipolar disorder, it is essential to approach the film with a critical eye and consider the potential implications of presenting mental health through a romantic lens.
Shutter Island: Creative questioning or dramatic fiction?
Set in the 1950s, Shutter Island follows the story of US Marshal Teddy Daniels as he investigates a mysterious disappearance at a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane. As the plot unfolds, the line between what is real and what is imagined becomes increasingly blurred.
Unlike some of the other films on this list, the mental illness component of the film and its relevance to the plot is not clear until the end; meaning you have to re-watch or spend time going back over some of the tell-tale nuggets to work out what had just happened.
There is no doubt about it that this film is brilliant, it gives you everything you want in a movie night. Excellent acting, twists, turns, suspense and a dark thrilling undertone but I think many would find it difficult to follow at times. It also suffered a bit from melodrama. Since being set in a "mental institution" many of the patients inside its walls were deliberately made to be dangerous, disgusting or harrowing to the viewer., which is typical of how mental illness was perceived in the past, so do they have a responsibility to the time, or the viewer now?. Overall it is difficult to make any concrete conclusions on whether this portrayal was accurate because it had the additional complexity of being set in the 1950s when mental illness wasn't properly understood or treated to the extent it is now. Admittedly there have been some shameful treatments of mental health patients over the years, but I ask myself... do I believe that any medical professional would let a dangerous delusional patient free to live out their fantasies in hopes of miraculous recovery? No. Although quite frankly reckless, I found that the doctor's methods in trying to help Teddy showed a sense of compassion and a real need to try alternative therapies. Even for the 1950s, this seems a bit underresearched for me, but it makes a good story.
One thing I found very refreshing was the way the film played with the audience making them question what is real and what isn't, almost mimicking the character's struggle and on a wider scale the delicate balance between sanity and insanity. It could be argued that the obscurity of the mental illness and in fact the question of which character was the "patient" leads to incorrect speculation but, in my opinion, I rather felt like it challenged the audience to observe the symptoms and "irregularities" of all the characters in hopes of trying to understand the "true" story.
SPOILER. It turns out that the main character Teddy Daniels had a mental break and is suffering from a delusional disorder after his wife murdered their 3 children during a bi-polar episode. Upon discovering this I felt that Teddy's portrayal of Delusion was fairly accurate and they managed to give him a background story which set up his disorder which was well thought out, with clues throughout the film.
In general, I believe this portrayal of mental illness was not inaccurate or discriminatory, but considering the time period, it was necessary to view it with a degree of scepticism.
Rain Man: Groundbreaking or Insulting towards Neurodiversity?
So I'm straying away from the "illness" terminology with this one. Still, I thought it was important to mention that Rain Main which was released in 1988 was revolutionary at the time for bringing awareness to Autism and on a wider scale, neurodiversity to the cinema.
Dustin Hoffman's Portrayal of Raymond won him an Oscar and Tom Cruise did an excellent job showing a complex emotional journey of acceptance, not shying away from displaying moments of frustration, anger and annoyance, all the while we watched him fall in love with his brother and cherish his individuality.
Looking at Rain Man now, I question whether it stands up and of course, the answer is no. The character of Raymond is quintessential and stereotypical in a very "in-your-face way" whereas nowadays we'd expect a neurodiverse character to be more complex addressing the spectrum of the condition rather than pointing a finger right at it. But who is to say this wasn't the intended reason for the film? Maybe they wanted to make an impact, a bold statement about Autism and the best way they thought to do it was to be as obvious and blatant with Raymond's character as possible.
It is undeniable however that Rain Man brought attention to neurodiversity and made people sit up and pay attention. Because of this film, the social awareness we have now is greater.
With all this being said, I wanted to round up by mentioning one of my favourite films. The Imitation Game.
One might question how this film earned its spot on the list, considering it focuses on Alan Turing in 1940s England and his pivotal role in cracking the German enigma code, which played a significant part in the Allies' victory in the Second World War.
The film's inclusion is based on this historical context, not on mental health themes, as they are not central to the plot.
While many believed Alan Turing had Asperger syndrome, a type of autism spectrum disorder, unlike "Rain Man," "The Imitation Game" acknowledges Turing's Asperger's condition without making it the primary focus of the narrative. It presents a sensitive and brilliant portrayal of neurodiversity.
Despite being set in the 1940s, the film unexpectedly offers a nuanced depiction of mental health, demonstrating that even in a different era, such themes can be depicted accurately and realistically without resorting to melodrama.
In exploring the controversial depictions of mental illness in these five movies, it becomes clear that cinema wields an extraordinary influence on public perception. The power of these portrayals cannot be underestimated, as they shape our understanding of mental health and perpetuate harmful stereotypes or challenge conventional beliefs. It is the responsibility of all filmmakers to approach these sensitive subjects with a level of sensitivity and accuracy, recognizing that their work has a profound impact on individuals and society as a whole.
As we conclude this exploration, it is essential to strive for a more inclusive and accurate representation of mental illness. We must promote understanding and empathy, ensuring a healthier future for everyone.
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