First off - I wouldn't really classify TITICUT FOLLIES as a "documentary" in the classic sense. There are no interviews, no narrator, and there doesn't appear to be any real "slant" to the film. Instead, it is a cold and voyeuristic view into the activities and practices of the inmates and their "caretakers" within a 1960s mental institution...
Throughout the film, we get a glimpse of the daily lives of the doctors and nurses, guards, and inmates of the Bridgewater State mental hospital in Massachusettes. We watch as the guards and "patients" interact, and as the patients interact amongst themselves. There doesn't appear to be any real bias to the film, other than to show the conditions that these individuals all coexist in. The hospital seems to be filled with every type of mentally disturbed individual - from pedophiles, to Tourettes sufferers, to schizophrenics to the severely mentally retarded. The camera captures the "action" unrelentingly and in graphic detail.
Many find TITICUT FOLLIES "disturbing" due to the treatment of the patients. I for one found most of the guards and doctors to be relatively humane and compassionate, given the circumstances. The only instance I considered to be "abusive" was when one guard taunted an inmate about cleaning his room. He was obviously getting some sort of kick out of upsetting the old man which I found rather sad and sadistic. Of the other scenes in the film, I didn't see any instances of what I would personally consider "physical abuse" - though the living arrangements for the inmates left much to be desired. The inmates were often left in completely bare rooms totally naked. I assume it's so they wouldn't hurt themselves, but it still seemed animalistic. Another key scene that several other reviewers have focused on is the "force-feeding" of an inmate, which while unpleasant, I found to be necessary as it's noted that the person hadn't eaten in three days. At that point, I don't see any other option except to allow the person to starve to death - and I doubt anyone would consider that option all that "humane" either.
Unfortunately, these types of mentally disturbed individuals still live in similar circumstances today - having medications forced on them and living in a depressing, nearly comatose state for the majority of their lives in harsh institutions. I personally know people who have spent time in mental and rehabilitation institutions, and from their retelling, it doesn't seem that any great strides have been made in either the care or rehabilitation of those that suffer from serious mental issues. I don't necessarily blame this on the doctors or the facilities involved, as I'm sure that many of them do their utmost to help those that have these afflictions - I just don't think there's adequate knowledge of the human mind to be able to "fix" these individuals.
TITICUT FOLLIES is worth seeing to those that appreciate "tough" films - it's definitely not a laugh-a-minute joy-ride. Instead, I think it shows the types of things that all of us knows goes on (even to this day...), and wish didn't...8/10
Throughout the film, we get a glimpse of the daily lives of the doctors and nurses, guards, and inmates of the Bridgewater State mental hospital in Massachusettes. We watch as the guards and "patients" interact, and as the patients interact amongst themselves. There doesn't appear to be any real bias to the film, other than to show the conditions that these individuals all coexist in. The hospital seems to be filled with every type of mentally disturbed individual - from pedophiles, to Tourettes sufferers, to schizophrenics to the severely mentally retarded. The camera captures the "action" unrelentingly and in graphic detail.
Many find TITICUT FOLLIES "disturbing" due to the treatment of the patients. I for one found most of the guards and doctors to be relatively humane and compassionate, given the circumstances. The only instance I considered to be "abusive" was when one guard taunted an inmate about cleaning his room. He was obviously getting some sort of kick out of upsetting the old man which I found rather sad and sadistic. Of the other scenes in the film, I didn't see any instances of what I would personally consider "physical abuse" - though the living arrangements for the inmates left much to be desired. The inmates were often left in completely bare rooms totally naked. I assume it's so they wouldn't hurt themselves, but it still seemed animalistic. Another key scene that several other reviewers have focused on is the "force-feeding" of an inmate, which while unpleasant, I found to be necessary as it's noted that the person hadn't eaten in three days. At that point, I don't see any other option except to allow the person to starve to death - and I doubt anyone would consider that option all that "humane" either.
Unfortunately, these types of mentally disturbed individuals still live in similar circumstances today - having medications forced on them and living in a depressing, nearly comatose state for the majority of their lives in harsh institutions. I personally know people who have spent time in mental and rehabilitation institutions, and from their retelling, it doesn't seem that any great strides have been made in either the care or rehabilitation of those that suffer from serious mental issues. I don't necessarily blame this on the doctors or the facilities involved, as I'm sure that many of them do their utmost to help those that have these afflictions - I just don't think there's adequate knowledge of the human mind to be able to "fix" these individuals.
TITICUT FOLLIES is worth seeing to those that appreciate "tough" films - it's definitely not a laugh-a-minute joy-ride. Instead, I think it shows the types of things that all of us knows goes on (even to this day...), and wish didn't...8/10