Films Illustrating Psychopathology Danny Wedding Mary Ann Boyd ...

224 Movies and Mental Illness
Murmur of the Heart (1971) Comedy ΨΨ
A sensitive, intelligent, and funny French film
about an incestuous relationship between a young
mother and her adolescent son.
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) Drama ΨΨ
The two lead characters are homosexuals,
although this fact is almost incidental to the story
about alcoholism, street gangs, race relations, and
social class.
My Favorite Season (1993) Drama ΨΨΨ
A French film dealing with adolescent sexuality,
family dynamics, and love between a brother
and sister.
My Life to Live/Vivre sa Vie (1963) ΨΨΨ
Jean-Luc Godard’s 12-part examination of the life
of a prostitute, starring Anna Karina.
My Own Private Idaho (1991) Drama ΨΨ
River Phoenix, who subsequently died of a drug
overdose, plays a homosexual prostitute.
Mystery of Alexina, The (1985) Drama ΨΨ
A story about the psychological sequelae of the
decision to raise a male child as a female.
Nine and ½ Weeks (1986) Drama/Suspense ΨΨ
Excellent character portrayals by Mickey Rourke
and Kim Basinger who meet at a grocery store and
later engage in sensual sexual exploration and mild
sadomasochism.
Normal (2003) Drama ΨΨΨ
A man (Tom Wilkinson) after 25 years of marriage
tells his wife (Jessica Lange) he is a woman
trapped in a man’s body and he wants gender modification
surgery.
Nos Amours, A (1984) Drama ΨΨΨ
A French film exploring the sexuality of a 15-year-old
girl and the way it affects her family.
Of Human Bondage (1934) Drama ΨΨ
Bette Davis stars in this film about the sexual
obsession of a club-footed physician for a
cruel, vulgar, and manipulative waitress. Based
on a novel by Somerset Maugham. This film
is far superior to the two adaptations that
followed it.
On-line (2002) Drama ΨΨΨ
A film about internet addiction. Emphasis on the
lack of connection and relational intimacy of the
addict. Depicts an obsession with fantasy that
becomes confused as reality.
“You dirty swine! I never cared
for you... It made me sick when
you kissed me. I only did it
because you drove me crazy.
And after you kissed me I always
used to wipe my mouth – wipe
my mouth!”
Bette Davis berates Leslie
Howard in Of Human Bondage
Oscar Wilde (1960) Biography Ψ
Robert Morley plays Oscar Wilde, the wit and
playwright who was convicted of sodomy.
Peeping Tom (1960) Thriller ΨΨΨ
Controversial film about a sexual psychopath who
photographs his victims as they are dying. Look for
the full-length version of the film, which was
released in 1979.
Personal Best (1982) Sports ΨΨΨ
Fascinating film that explores the sexual relationship
that develops between two women competing
for a position on an Olympic team.
“It’s being aware of what it means
to lose oneself before being
completely abandoned.”
The Piano Teacher
Piano Teacher, The (2001) Drama ΨΨΨΨ
This is a powerful French film about a prominent,
masochistic piano teacher who becomes sexually
involved with one of her pupils. The film makes
sexual obsession understandable and plausible.
Pillow Book (1997) Drama ΨΨΨΨ
Complex Peter Greenaway film about a woman who
becomes sexually obsessed with calligraphy. This
film is a meditation on love, art and imagination,
eroticism, order, and decay.
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)