01
“Schizophrenia” (2008)
Keywords: Schizophrenia, delusion, inner dialogue
This Cannes best short film is about schizophrenia in an animated short film, depicting the delusional world of schizophrenia patients from a fresh perspective. Since a meteor hit the antenna of the building opposite the protagonist, he always feels that his world is exactly 91 cm off from the real world. Everyday trivial matters have become a burden for him. “A little more, a little less, even if I know how many centimeters I have deviated, what does it matter?”
02
“A Beautiful Mind” (2001)
Keywords: Schizophrenia, psychoanalysis, inspiration
Biographical film of the great 20th-century mathematician John Forbes Nash. The protagonist publishes the famous game theory while studying, although his outstanding intuition is troubled by schizophrenia, he continues to move forward with the encouragement and help of his loved one. He proved with facts that “man is weak because of the flesh, but strong because of the spirit.”
03
“Nise: The Heart of Madness” (2015)
Keywords: Schizophrenia, treatment methods
Biographical film adapted from the real story of Dr. Nise, a female psychiatrist. The female protagonist rejects the use of a new high-intensity electric shock therapy, insisting on using the therapy of the mind and art successfully to cure schizophrenia patients.
04
“Yes, We Can!” (2008)
Keywords: Personal value realization of mental patients
Tells the story of a Milanese businessman who, after losing his job, works at a mental hospital, organizing mental patients to strive for self-improvement together and find personal value. The best thing turns out to be having goals and hopes in life.
05
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975)
Keywords: Mental hospital, liberalism
“Not free, better off dead.” The male protagonist pretends to be mentally ill to escape forced labor in prison, checks into a mental hospital, and unfolds a series of stories.
06
“Joker” (2019)
Keywords: Schizophrenia, social issues, empathy
The protagonist making a living as a Joker is a schizophrenic patient caught in a desperate life, eccentric and introverted. Influenced by his original family and social environment, he continuously struggles and commits crimes, gradually descending into madness and destruction.
07
“Psychiatric Hospital” (2002)
Keywords: Psychiatric hospital, love and hope in wartime
In a psychiatric hospital on the border during the Chechen war, medical personnel flee, leaving a group of unsupervised mental patients. The female protagonist with a mental illness plays the accordion, staging a story about war, love, and hope.
08
“The Fisher King” (1991)
Keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder, love and redemption
A heartwarming story of love and forgiveness. The protagonist grew up in a violent family, leaving traces of post-traumatic stress disorder in his adult life. Despite the hardships and setbacks in life, there are still beautiful aspects to life, isn’t it?
09
“Sunset Boulevard” (1950)
Keywords: Delusional disorder
From a social and observer’s perspective, it tells the story of an out-of-date silent film star suffering from severe delusional disorder, living in her own world. When life is disconnected from reality and imagination, truth and lies intertwine, life is directed into a tragedy, with the end being both a movie and life.
10
“Inside Out” (2016)
Keywords: Bipolar disorder, recovery treatment, social pressure
The male protagonist, Adong, is a bipolar disorder patient, realistically depicting the pain, discrimination, and struggles faced by bipolar disorder patients and their families. Despite being surrounded by troubles, support from family and perseverance in medication therapy give hope.
11
“The Aviator” (2004)
Keywords: Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Based on a true story, the biographical film depicts the protagonist’s love for flying and his legendary rise. However, the male lead is stubborn, pursuing perfection, and suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, including cleanliness compulsions and specific food arrangements. He unconsciously seeks inner security and order through controlling and conquering the external world.
12
“Rain Man” (1988)
Keywords: Autism, family ethics with emotions and money
The male lead accidentally discovers that his father’s $3 million inheritance is left to his autistic brother. He goes to a mental hospital to find his brother, wanting to deceive the money. He also finds out about his brother’s exceptional memory. While planning to use his brother’s ability in gambling to make money, he discovers a more important wealth than the inheritance — family love.
13
“Helen: The 7 Faces of a Girl” (2004)
Keywords: Dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities)
A documentary about a person with dissociative identity disorder possessing seven personalities, portraying a real and worth-watching story.
14
“A Clockwork Orange” (1971)
Keywords: Antisocial personality disorder
“A Clockwork Orange” is a metaphor for something extremely strange. The protagonist, who indulges in freedom and commits all kinds of evil, is transformed through a “reformation of sin” experiment into a person immune to immorality like violence and sexual desires. Absolute goodness or evil devoid of humanity, it is the moral choice that matters. How individuals maintain their free will in society is a question worth contemplating.
15
“A Clockwork Orange” (1971)
Keywords: Psychological trauma, autism, depression
The film depicts how some people fell into autism and depression due to psychological trauma after the 9/11 incident, and their journey of overcoming the struggles through mutual support and understanding.
