In a classical Cinema Verite-way, the film shows the everyday lives of patients in a mental institution. From their entry, to their everyday lives living in squalor in their own rooms, and their interaction with the personnel and others, and the often referenced performance show.
Not as controversial as it seems.
Some of the issues raised here are somewhat mundane in retrospect. Clearly, the nudity upon entry could have been handled better (like a separate room), or the nudity in the rooms are not actually forced BUT is concerned with patients with higher degree of mental illness (which could have been handled better), even the bullying is more or less banters. It was not as horrific as people describes it.
I do think the bigger and stronger chunk of the film's controversy should have concerned with the inmates who thinks they should not be administered medicine that is not helping. That was from what I observe a truly concerning moment in the film, especially since he was one of the more mentally capable inmates. He knows something was not working AND they were just diffusing his concerns. Its somewhat forgotten given THAT it was not the flashiest sequence.
Otherwise, this was an ok documentary. Not as revelatory as people had suggested. A noteworthy timepiece if anything.
Not as controversial as it seems.
Some of the issues raised here are somewhat mundane in retrospect. Clearly, the nudity upon entry could have been handled better (like a separate room), or the nudity in the rooms are not actually forced BUT is concerned with patients with higher degree of mental illness (which could have been handled better), even the bullying is more or less banters. It was not as horrific as people describes it.
I do think the bigger and stronger chunk of the film's controversy should have concerned with the inmates who thinks they should not be administered medicine that is not helping. That was from what I observe a truly concerning moment in the film, especially since he was one of the more mentally capable inmates. He knows something was not working AND they were just diffusing his concerns. Its somewhat forgotten given THAT it was not the flashiest sequence.
Otherwise, this was an ok documentary. Not as revelatory as people had suggested. A noteworthy timepiece if anything.