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People Like Ourselves: Portrayals of Mental Illness in the Movies (Studies in Film Genres): 3
Author(s): Jacqueline Noll Zimmerman (Author)
- Publisher: Scarecrow Press (UK)
- Publication Date: 29 Sept. 2003
- Language: English
- Print length: 184 pages
- ISBN-10: 0810848767
- ISBN-13: 9780810848764
Book Description
The stigmatization of mental illness in film has been well documented in literature. Little has been written, however, about the ability of movies to portray mental illness sympathetically and accurately. People Like Ourselves: Portrayals of Mental Illness in the Movies fills that void with a close look at mental illness in more than seventy American movies, beginning with classics such as The Snake Pit and Now, Voyager and including such contemporary successes as A Beautiful Mind and As Good as It Gets. Films by legendary directors Billy Wilder, William Wyler, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and John Cassavetes are included. Through the examination of universal themes relating to ones self and society, the denial of reality, the role of women, creativity, war, and violence, Zimmerman argues that these ground-breaking films defy stereotypes, presenting sympathetic portraits of people who are mentally ill, and advance the movie-going publics understanding of mental illness, while providing insight into its causes, diagnosis, and treatment. More importantly, they portray mentally ill people as ordinary people with conflicts and desires common to everyone. Like the motion pictures it revisits, this fascinating book offers insight, entertainment, and a sense of understanding.
Editorial Reviews
Review
People Like Ourselves should interest movie buffs and physicians looking for positive portrayals of mental illness.
About the Author
Jacqueline Noll Zimmerman is a retired college professor and communications manager.
