Movies that tell the drama of mental illness: some great movie masterpieces to watch

Mental illness is often overlooked in our world. And this despite the fact that they completely influence our lives, if we are unlucky enough to suffer from any of them.

In fact, in 2022, things changed a bit, and people began to realize them. However, not all of us, many of our peers, have a tendency to downplay the effects of mental illness, even when the sufferers are themselves.

Like any other illness, mental illness needs treatment, even if it is sometimes unconventional. Left untouched, they can affect both the mind and the body, and mental illness is only the first piece in a game of dominoes that can end fatally.

In the hope of awareness, many filmmakers have, over time, focused on the most popular diseases of the soul, as they are also called in popular parlance.

So, let’s see what are some of the best movies that treat mental illness, but also the devastating effects they have on humans in general.

“Black Swan” (2010), a film that tells you about anorexia and terrible suffering

At the time of its release, “Black Swan” enjoyed sufficient appreciation from both the public and the critics. Interesting how, for such an abstract film, he managed to capture the attention of even those who are accustomed, for example, to watching movies with Steven Seagal – if not out of conviction, at least out of sheer curiosity.

I even remember a certain moment when, being projected in my city, during an outdoor film festival, “Black Swan” aroused a wave of laughter from seed lovers. Obviously, the reaction wasn’t exactly what I expected, but I couldn’t help but notice how, despite the fact that they didn’t understand anything from the movie, those people were still there to see him – and not by chance, but intentionally (I had heard some discussions before the screening).

“Black Swan,” starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, tells the story of a ballerina who struggles to maintain her mental health as she prepares for a contest. Anorexia, mental disintegration and all the horrible process that follows, all wrapped in a dark, gloomy cloak.

“Girl, Interrupted” (1999) deals with borderline personality disorder

An Angelina Jolie, when the actress was still wearing the clothes of rebellion, and a Winona Ryder with one step into the world of madness (literally, unfortunately), and with the other stuck in innocence. How could you not want to see such a combination?

Again, we are talking about personality disorders, since the action of the film takes place, for the most part, in a sanatorium for people with mental health problems.

It is worth mentioning that Angelina Jolie won, for this role, the Oscar for best female performance. Moreover, the role has paved the way for its overwhelming popularity over the years.

Without a doubt, I can say that “Girl, Interrupted” is one of my favorite movies of all time, along with another one, “awful” like it, which I will talk about below.

“The Virgin Suicides” (1999), a disturbing film about acute depression

“The Virgin Suicides” is the movie that stays in your mind, even decades after you first saw it. The film deals with extreme depression, but also the inability of people to adapt to a society that often requires far too much from them, refusing to accept them in their true nature.

“I Smile Back” (2015), about the toxic relationship between mental illness and substance abuse

A film that, in turn, should not be avoided. Especially if you want to better understand how substance abuse can affect your mental health. In fact, it can be said that the relationship could be viewed the other way around, since people with a predisposition to any of the mental illnesses will be much more inclined to take refuge in alcohol or narcotics, in the hope that, at least for a short time. , they will feel something other than soul pain.

“One Flew over The Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), perhaps the best film in this category

“One Flew over The Cuckoo’s Nest” was released in theaters in 1975 and is the most “one-on-one” translation of Ken Kensey’s 1962 novel.

As mentioned before, when we talked about “Girl, Interrupted”, there is a second “terrible” film of a similar nature, and this is represented by the very film in which we can see Jack Nicholson, playing the lead role.

I admit that before I saw the movie, I had the patience to read the book, just so as not to spoil my reading pleasure.

What would I choose between the two? Obviously, both are worth considering, as well. So, first of all, it would be good to read the book, and then to be convinced if the film rises to the level of the original work.

In fact, if you are patient and a fan of theater, you will be glad to know that the play based on Kinsey’s novel is quite popular, nowadays, many actors are trying to reproduce the “feeling” as faithfully as possible.

I would add, however, that there is some sequel to “One Flew over The Cuckoo’s Nest”, which focuses on the life of the tough nurse in the movie / book. The series, directed by the unique and incomparable Ryan Murphy, is currently available on Netflix, and is called “Ratched”.

As Ratched, we see the magnificent Sarah Paulson, who has made history in many other Murphy-signed productions over time, including absolutely every season of “American Horror Story,” but also in a miniseries. (somewhat biographical) about the life and trial of OJ Simpson.

And if we still get to this point, the second season of “AHS” also deals with the subject of mental illness, its action taking place in a sanatorium for “crazy”, as it was cataloged, at that time, people with mental illness and emphasizes the way patients were treated in the 1950s, but also the ease with which you could be hospitalized, just because you did not fit into the social values ​​of those times.