[RomanSunburn]

I put a trigger on this thread because I was very triggered by Black Swan.

I put this in the 'other mental health' section because, even though it's about movies, it's about movies dealing with mental health, but not one specific disorder.

I really just wanted everyone's opinions on these movies and other movies dealing with mental health issues. What were your reactions and thoughts?

I'm going to wait to give mine; I'd first like to see what others have to day.

Thanks all!

[ladyjrnlist]

They don't bother me so much. I guess it just doesn't connect enough with my personal experiences. Of course, Black Swan dealt with psychosis and abuse issues that I did not experience, so perhaps that is why.

Mmmmm.... Juicy Fruit!

[Dark_Dreams]

Black Swan was a trip down the rabbit hole for me. I didn't feel anything but extreme confusion. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest was actually pretty awesome. I am not bothered by movies that focus on mental illness or other similar issues. I actually find them interesting. I like to see how different people interpret certain behaviors. Whether a movie is based on a real life person or situation or purely made up also impact whether I care about it. I prefer atistic interpretations of real life situations and people. Different people interpret behavior differently. I am more interested in the interpretation than anything else

[racee]

i am not bothered by movies. it is someone else's experience being portrayed, not mine. i may share similair backgrounds with people, but in the end what i have experienced and go through is my experience, no one can duplicate my own feelings.

i have seen a lot of movies that i guess shared some of the same stories that i have been through, but i have never mathced it up, . i see each individual story as their own and don't think back on my refrences to it.

[ELLIEANDMONKEY]

I thought Black Swan was amazing. I absolutely loved it and I like to think maybe movies like these can give the normal person a bit of insight into what people with mental illness go through.

[RomanSunburn]

I personally hated both Black Swan and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

I didn't see any abuse in Black Swan. The movie triggered me so bad, I barely watched any of it. I went home and just cried and shook, and my poor fiance was like "What's wrong? It was only a movie?" Perhaps because I was a dancer and also struggled with perfectionistic tendencies, it just hit too close to home. I also didn't understand why it had to be so graphic, both in regards to the blood and sex, except to make money (which has always been something that bothers me). I really can't look at Natalie Portman the same way anymore. (A side note about Natalie Portman, I feel like she hasn't picked many good roles to be in, at least not since Garden State).

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest just made me angry. I haven't read the book, but I think I will. I found out today that the author wasn't even a big fan of the movie (hearsay, don't quote me). I didn't like how the nurse was referred to as a villian on the DVD case. To me, a villian is someone who hurts someone else or does something wrong fully knowing what they are doing is wrong and that they are hurting others. Nurse Ratched, it my opinion, was doing what she thought was right. That doesn't make it right, but she thought she was right. Also, just because what she was doing was wrong doesn't make what McMurphy was doing right either. The two of them just made me angry. I felt bad for the rest of the characters because they were just caught in a power struggle which did them no good. I didn't feel too outraged, either, by the way they were treated. Perhaps, if we still lived in the book's hayday, I would be. But I know a lot of things have changed in hospitals and in law books that make a majority of those offenses illegal (Such as the nurse telling Billy's mother about what happened).

Has anyone seen Girl, Interrupted? I read the book and liked it, just haven't seen the movie yet. Or that movie (or read the book) that just came out not too long ago about the high school boy in a hospital?

I enjoy reading and seeing movies about others perspectives or experiences with mental illness. I just haven't found too many films that I actually enjoyed and felt like I took something useful away from it and wanted to know what others thought on the subject.

[LavalampTerry]

Saw "Good Will Hunting" on Monday. Probably the last person in America to see it. It's been around a long time, I gather. The relationship between Matt Damon & Robin Williams was a SPOT ON depiction of mine & my T's relationship. (except I would never push her - I think she could kick my butt!) I loved how the 2 characters interacted as equals - sharing Fenway Park stories and the way the Robin Williams character described his relationship with his "dead" wife. What sharing a life with another human being meant... Broke me up. My T and I have had similiar discussions. It's a keeper! Gonna get a copy to refresh those good feelings from time to time.

Lavalamp

[shezbut]

I avoid films like the ones you mentioned, because they bring back memories for me.

I have been institutionalized a few times in my life (one major time as a teen, and two shorter times in my mid-late 30's). I have seen some very serious things behind those walls. I have made friends while in mental hospitals. People suffering from all sorts of experiences ~ and diagnoses.

I have strong memories of people "going off" and a clan of aides and nurses running over, pushing the person to the ground & giving a shot of thorazine near the heiny. Chairs thrown, screaming and yelling galore. Quite a ruckus for the other patients to ignore.

I really don't need any reminders to remember that area of my life. The memories aren't all negative. But it's a very intimate part of my life that I'd rather not F with.

[Irine]

Black swan...wow...

I went to watch it JUST SO IT COULD TRIGGER ME! Which it successfully did!
I think it is very impressive and affective movie in the visual aspect, but otherwise i was disappointed - first of all - by nina`s personal weakness and lack of maturity, second by all those Hollywood banality, platitude, cliche- like her death in the end.

I agree it had to do with psychosis. I just wish that Nina would truly be able to find the middle between black and white. Not just fall into her insanity while chasing the dream of becoming the swan queen.

[(JD)]

like her death in the end.

I haven't seen it. Should I now?

Did you seek out the trigger as a type of exposure therapy? Did it help really?

[sunrise]

I haven't seen Black Swan. I saw the previews, and they didn't appeal to me, so I won't be seeing it. (My teenage daughter really liked it, though.)

I read Cuckoo's Nest and saw the movie decades ago and remember liking them both. Don't know what I would think today.

I really liked Good Will Hunting! I liked watching how the Robin Williams therapist character forged a relationship with Matt Damon. I also enjoyed the doofus therapists Matt Damon saw before finding Robin Williams, and how he handled them.

I also really liked A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe.

I have seen Girl, Interrupted but not read the book. My daughter and I were both puzzled because the Winona Ryder character seemed pretty "normal" to us and we didn't understand why she was institutionalized. I think we missed something in the editing... Maybe it was clearer in the book (or maybe we are just kind of slow!).

[reader1587]

Originally Posted by RomanSunburn

I personally hated both Black Swan and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

I didn't see any abuse in Black Swan. The movie triggered me so bad, I barely watched any of it. I went home and just cried and shook, and my poor fiance was like "What's wrong? It was only a movie?" Perhaps because I was a dancer and also struggled with perfectionistic tendencies, it just hit too close to home. I also didn't understand why it had to be so graphic, both in regards to the blood and sex, except to make money (which has always been something that bothers me). I really can't look at Natalie Portman the same way anymore. (A side note about Natalie Portman, I feel like she hasn't picked many good roles to be in, at least not since Garden State).

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest just made me angry. I haven't read the book, but I think I will. I found out today that the author wasn't even a big fan of the movie (hearsay, don't quote me). I didn't like how the nurse was referred to as a villian on the DVD case. To me, a villian is someone who hurts someone else or does something wrong fully knowing what they are doing is wrong and that they are hurting others. Nurse Ratched, it my opinion, was doing what she thought was right. That doesn't make it right, but she thought she was right. Also, just because what she was doing was wrong doesn't make what McMurphy was doing right either. The two of them just made me angry. I felt bad for the rest of the characters because they were just caught in a power struggle which did them no good. I didn't feel too outraged, either, by the way they were treated. Perhaps, if we still lived in the book's hayday, I would be. But I know a lot of things have changed in hospitals and in law books that make a majority of those offenses illegal (Such as the nurse telling Billy's mother about what happened).

Has anyone seen Girl, Interrupted? I read the book and liked it, just haven't seen the movie yet. Or that movie (or read the book) that just came out not too long ago about the high school boy in a hospital?

I enjoy reading and seeing movies about others perspectives or experiences with mental illness. I just haven't found too many films that I actually enjoyed and felt like I took something useful away from it and wanted to know what others thought on the subject.

I saw Girl, Interrupted years ago (and had read the book previously). Not a bad film, with some good characters and insights, but also standard Hollywoodish dramatic elements (I won't tell you what I thought those were, but you can probably imagine them and/or see them coming when you watch it).

Another film in this vein you may enjoy which was decent but not a classic was Prozac Nation with Christina Ricci.

P.S. I also just saw "The Roommate" which is a terrible movie but has some quasi-interesting psychological dynamics if you know how to spot them and ignore the histrionics. (It's kind of a remake of "Single White Female" btw.)

[Melinae]

Black Swan really shook me up...
I should've heeded a review that the movie has a very claustrophobic, tension-ridden feel, akin to the walls closing in on you while you lose control.
A nightmarish feeling.
I was dying for some relief...a shot of the blue sky, or of some flowers... but the only relief came through the tragic ending.
Walked out of the movie theater unbelievably disoriented.

[Fresia]

I actually tried to read 'One Flew...' decades ago and I could not get through it at the time, too distressing as had just come out of the hospital. It and 'Black Swan' are on my list to watch soon so we'll see how it will go now. These things do not touch me the same way that they used to thanks to time, healing, and perspective. I am a little more grounded than used to be. Although it can still be upsetting just not so distressing as of late. So I am very interested to see them now and curious about the stories. Hmmmm? Vhat vil happen? It will be a bit of an odd experiment on myself I guess.

Which would y'all recommend that I see first?
Black Swan
One that Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

[LavalampTerry]

"This Boy's Life." Robert Deniro - Leo DeCaprio. Describes MY life with "Dear Old Dad." Except that kid got away - I didn't.

Lavalamp