Ruminations on Madness - Free and open event

Ruminations on Madness

This season will be introduced by people whose work and life experiences have afforded them insights into the problems encountered in the psychiatric system. The talks that precede the films will seek to challenge prevailing assumptions about mental health and those who use psychiatric services.

All three films present a troubling picture of a system we have come to rely heavily upon. Set in different countries and eras the films explore the universality of human suffering and a system that has come to reduce that experience rather simplistically.  The films show a disturbing side of the mental health system and its many abuses that result in reducing and controlling  human behaviour.

Films screened in MMU New Business School G.36 – Lecture Theatre 3

Time – 6.00 pm

Discussion after film at Sandbar (Sandbar
120 Grosvenor Street,
 Manchester,
M1 7HL )

11^th November 2013 

Park Avenue

(dir. Aparna Sen, 2005)

National Film Award winning English language Indian art house film. The film explores the impact of schizophrenia on a young woman and her family in Calcutta. The narrative revolves around the relationship of two sisters, a successful professor who is also carer for her sister whose progression into schizophrenia has been speeded up by traumatic life events. Recurring themes include issues facing Indian families when it to comes mental health and the reality of a mental health service user. The film has a cast of award winning actors.

Introduced by Pauline Sometimes and Sonia Soans.

18^th November 2013

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

(dir. Miloš Forman, 1975)

Based on Ken Kessey’s novel of the same name the film looks at the life of a man who enters a psychiatric institution with the idea to escape jail. The film raises some disturbing issues about the nature of mental illness and its subsequent treatment in an environment that cannot provide an alternate understanding of human behaviour.

Introduced by Konstantina Poursanidou.

25^th November 2013

Family Life

(dir. Ken Loach, 1971)

British drama film which won 5 awards. A remake of The Wednesday Play "In Two Minds", written by David Mercer and directed by Loach, which was transmitted by the BBC in March 1967. The film traces the life of a working class girl (Janice) who leads a dull life, her parents consider her  to be misbehaved. When she is unable to cope with the emotional and mental effect of upsetting her parents after an abortion. Janice is subjected to shockingly self-righteous and ignorant doctors.

Introduced by – Helen Spandler.

Issues of Asylum magazine for democratic psychiatry will be available for sale at the event.