Films Illustrating Psychopathology Danny Wedding Mary Ann Boyd ...

Appendix G: Films Illustrating Psychopathology 223
Stanley Kubrick; watch for Peter Sellers as Dr.
Zempf, the Beardsley High School psychologist.
“What drives me insane is
the twofold nature of this
nymphet... this mixture in my
Lolita of tender, dreamy
childishness and a kind of
eerie vulgarity.”
Humbert Humbert in Lolita
Luna (1979) Drama ΨΨ
A Bertolucci film that explores mother-son incest
and addiction. The film is not Bertolucci’s best
effort.
Magenta (1996) Drama Ψ
Happily married physician crosses boundaries
sexually with his sister-in-law, creating havoc in
his family.
Manhattan (1979) Comedy/Romance ΨΨΨΨ
Classic Woody Allen film in which his former
wife, played by Meryl Streep, has taken a lover,
found happiness, and written a book to tell the
world about Allen’s kinky habits. Allen’s character
(in an example of art imitating life) is consumed
with guilt over the fact that he is living with a
teenage girl.
Mark, The (1961) Drama ΨΨΨΨ
A British film about a pedophile who serves his
sentence and is released, supposedly cured.
However, a journalist who reveals the man’s past
hampers his rehabilitation. Interesting film in light
of recent court decisions about sex offenders.
Matador (1986) Comedy/Drama ΨΨ
Almodovar film about a bullfighter who acts in
snuff films.
Menage (1986) Comedy ΨΨ
A French film that examines sex roles, sexual
stereotypes, and the need for novelty and excitement
in sexual relationships.
Midnight Cowboy (1969) Drama ΨΨΨΨΨ
Jon Voight leaves Texas to make his fortune in
New York City working as a stud; instead, he
winds up hanging out with Ratso Rizzo, who dies
before the two can escape to Florida. This film is a
fascinating and complex character study.
“Well, I’ll tell you the truth now. I
ain’t a real cowboy, but I am one
helluva stud.”
Jon Voight as Joe Buck
in Midnight Cowboy
Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy, A (1982) ΨΨ
Excellent Woody Allen film about friends and
acquaintances who gather at a country house in the
woods at the turn of the century. Sexual boundaries
blur in this homage to Shakespeare, Renoir,
and others.
Mona Lisa (1986) Crime ΨΨΨ
Interesting Neil Jordan film about prostitution,
exploitation, drug addiction, and love. Filmed in
Soho, the film gives some insight into the two different
worlds of prostitution: that of the call girl
and that of the streetwalker.
Montenegro (1981) Drama ΨΨ
A Dusan Makavejev film about a bored housewife
slowly becoming psychotic. She becomes sexually
liberated and then murders her lover. Despite its
psychopathological theme, the film is really about
politics and social class.
“Well, I hope you’re up for a little
competition. She’s got a power tool
in the bedroom, dear. It’s her own
personal jackhammer. She could
break sidewalks with that thing.
She uses it and the lights dim, it’s
like a prison movie. Amazed she
hasn’t chipped her teeth.”
Mrs. Doubfire tries to
discourage Stu, his ex-wife’s
new lover in Mrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire (1994) Comedy ΨΨ
Robin Williams cross-dresses as an English nanny
to have time with his children.
From: Wedding, D., Boyd, M.A., & Niemiec, R.M. Movies and Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology
© 2005 Hogrefe & Huber Publishers (www.hogrefe.com)