In this modern era, mental health is an important issue that needs attention. There are many ways to remind this, one of them is through movies. Not a few directors and scriptwriters who try to raise the theme of mental health in the film. There are several recommendations for films about mental health that can be watched to remind the importance of managing mental well-being. Unfortunately, the issue of mental health is still underestimated. There are still many people who put it aside. In fact, a healthy mentality is the key to overall body health.
Since a long time, many films have tried to raise the topic of mental health. These films are wrapped in various ways and beautifully convey their messages. Here are the recommendations.
1. Words on Bathroom Walls (2020)
Words on Bathroom Walls became the first film recommendation about mental health. This film is adapted from the novel of the same name by Julia Walton. Directed by Thor Freudenthal, this film is about the struggles of Adam (Charlie Plummer), a teenager who suffers from schizophrenia.
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Adam experienced the ups and downs of life. One of them was being suspended from school due to a psychotic episode he experienced, which was considered a threat to the safety of students and teachers. This film illustrates how important the support of the closest people for people with mental disorders (ODGJ).
2. Joker (2019)
The Joker or Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, seems to have succeeded in describing the chaos of a person’s soul.
Directed by Todd Phillips, this film not only raises the iconic villain character in the DC Comics universe, but also raises the issue of mental health. Arthur Fleck is told to suffer from pseudobular affect or a mental disorder in which the sufferer responds to events with uncontrollable laughter or crying.
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This condition, of course, did not appear in agreement, but started from the treatment of the people who often ostracized him. Instead of getting proper treatment, Arthur actually does bad things as an escape from his depression that can make him feel satisfied.
3. Kim Ji Young Born 1982 (2019)
Kim Ji Young Born 1982 became one of the South Korean films that raised the issue of mental health indirectly. The director, Kim Do-young, packaged this film by describing a patriarchal culture that can lead to mental problems.
Kim Ji-young (Jung Yo-mi) is told as a housewife who experiences postpartum depression. Ji-young’s mental resilience collapses after she and her husband, Da-hyeon (Gong Yoo) decide to have children and make Ji-young have to quit her job. Ji-young’s condition is deteriorating from time to time. Under certain conditions, Ji-young loses herself and turns into a different person.
4. Inside Out (2015)
Inside Out is not just an animated film for kids. This film actually tries to give a message about the importance of emotions, as one of the important factors of mental health that needs to be maintained.
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Directed by Pete Docter, this film explores the various emotions that humans have through the head of a boy named Riley. Starting from happiness, sadness, fear, anger, to disgust. Through this film, the audience will be invited to understand how to manage emotions well.
5. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook is the film that most strongly raises the issue of mental problems. Directed by David O Russell, this film is about two people with mental problems who develop a close relationship. Is Pat (Bradley Cooper), a man diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After being released from the mental hospital where he was being treated, Pat is determined to get back with his ex-wife.
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However, in the middle of his business, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a woman who has been depressed for a long time. This entire film tries to redefine the meaning of mental illness itself and highlights the stigma of ‘crazy’ that is often attached to people with mental disorders.
6. The Perks of Being Wallflower (2012)
The next recommended film about mental health is The Perks of Being Wallflower, directed by Stephen Chbosky. This film is about the struggle of a teenager named Charlie (Logan Lerman) with post-traumatic depression.
His mental disorder condition makes it difficult for Charlie to interact socially. He is known as a quiet and shy person. Various conflicts are presented in the film. The conflicts are seen from Charlie’s point of view, who is depressed.
7. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A Beautiful Mind is basically a biographical film that highlights the life story of an American mathematician, John Nash. Nash (Russell Crowe) is known to be schizophrenic-paranoid.
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