This is a perfect movie that perfectly exhibits the term "Dual Diagnosis." Mental illness AND alcoholism/addiction. It's a very complex problem and both MUST be treated concurrently or the patient will never get better. I should know, I lived it. Thankfully I got better and clean/sober. (10+ years now.) Sadly, I put my family through hell. I also put myself through hell. I see myself so much in this film. I loved my kids with my entire being...yet I was not a good mother, at times. I was a giving, caring, empathetic, kind person...yet I was like a tornado going through my loved ones lives. Dual Diagnosis asks the old question, which came first? The chicken or the egg? Which came first? The mental illness or the alcoholism? Many of us try to self-medicate with chemicals, only to make things worse.
My mum was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was eleven after a breakdown due to stress. I’m her full time caregiver now and it’s very hard to watch movies about mental health when you have lived this situation your whole life. I haven’t seen this film but your summary makes me feel like I might try watching it sometime but I see even these clips of Gena and Peter and just cry because their acting is so good and she reminds me of my mum so much
RIP, GENA! Thank you for this...perfect analysis. This has long been among my top ten favorite films. Bipolar Disorder runs in my family, particularly among the eldest daughters on the extended and immediate side, including myself. Additionally, I grew up with a single father, and my brief time with a fairy stepmother ended with her mrding my uncle. I married a saint who still loves me, but who's had to make some tough treatment choices. I am, however, very accomplished. Thanks again.
I don't know you ,but I feel privileged to have read your story and that you found yourself a way through. I came here because Gena died,I suffer from depression,so can appreciate the crippling lows. Much love from Ireland.
But I don't think it was a bad thing. I think words couldn't describe what he feels for her, the immensity of it. Just my intuition though. But I understood him so much. Words are not enough to express infinty.
I can only watch this movie once every 10 years or so. When Mabel returns from the mental hospital, she eludes to certain procedures she was subjected to like ECT or perhaps Thorazine. When you have people in your family with severe mental health issues, you try your best to love, but you also need to set some good bounderies for yourself too.
"Mental Illness" is almost always a family "illness," unless the illness is due to a congenital physical disorder that can affect the brain - like childhood Rheumatoid Arthritis or congenital autoimmune myxedema. Much of Freud's, Jung's and other's ideas have derailed society through false theories and ineffective applications. There are so many "victims" of an incredibly toxic approach to overall good health. Much of modern day psychiatry and psychology is BS and has incredibly harmed many people and cultures.
What CAUSES so-called "mental illness" in folks? This is a brilliant film and tragic story of a Woman Under the Influence (influence of those around her) and the brain washing she can not overcome of: family of origin, culture and religion. This is a story about a smart and sensitive woman who is so mentally conditioned by her environment that she can NOT be herself. She can not separate from and establish boundaries between her own being - her own truest self - and the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of those around her. I feel so badly for Mable because she can not break out of the BS surrounding her. She becomes disconnected from her truest self and cannot find her way through all the filters covering her true spirit. She desperately wants to be herself, but cannnot because of much pressure and the pushing/pulling from those around her.
I think I understand what you're saying, and if so, I agree. I feel like I view her as far less mentally ill than those in the film believe her, to be and she is portrayed as and more so someone who's being forced to fit within the boundaries of social norms. If you've never seen the film Ruby Sparks with Zoe Kazan, you might enjoy it.
@@MellissaBoomeroftheNight Exactly! I do believe we are flowing in the same frequency. :) We are social beings. Very few can survive without being part of some kind of tribe. (Of course there are hermit exceptions to the rule.). We do an electromagnetic “dance” with each other. We are very unique individuals but also very connected to each other. We affect one another’s thoughts, words, emotions and physical movement. The blame/shame game isn’t helpful and doesn’t solve the real problems. If there is an addict in a family, or a family member with other serious mental or physical challenges or any kind of big problem, it is a group problem and the group’s responsibility to work together to manage or resolve it together. If a person in the family is a serious danger to themself or others or a sociopath or psychopath, or severely abusive to others, then it may require complete separation from that family member - maybe for the rest of earth life. It’s vital for each individual to first be accountable for their own physical and mental well-being. I actually finally had to completely separate myself from one of my own children who was adopted as a toddler. (All 4 of my children were adopted.) It is heartbreaking to be estranged from one’s own child, but I couldn’t sacrifice my own health anymore. So when she turned 33, there was no more contact. My heart is with the many families that struggle with serious problems. But, where there is life, there is hope. And I have seen and experienced many magnificent healings of all kinds!
I used to watch every film about bipolar disorder I could possibly find. :o) It was very cathartic and enjoyable. I love watching films that relate to mental illness.
Have you seen "My Life as a Dog", about the two boys being raised by a neurotic and physically Ill woman in the late 1950's Sputnik era, in Sweden, I think....it's a great movie. Goes right to the heart of the time period, although in Sweden it was different from the women of the 1970's in America. But we women were all damaged. Like Hillary Clinton, many women had really sad and unhappy feelings that they have no idea how to fix. They just feel afraid and alone and grotesque....
Giving that Nick is not educated and doesn't know anything about psychology yet accepts this woman ... he definitely loves her, he adores his family.... he is ready to do and accept anything for his family
You are right , sick of seeing misandry comments by these femi Nazis in the internet. Note : if someone reading this has a different opinion then keep it with you, i seriously don't like to get into argument in this.
To be honest, it makes me sad you see it that way. Some of us live with and love people with legitimate mental Illness. And we all do the best we can. Perhaps you should watch the whole movie? This IS a terribly sad movie. But honest in a way today’s audience is not able to handle. I see so much love from him. Sadness, difficulty, frustration, loyalty….and ultimately, love. Brilliant performances all around.
@@r-l1214 he's getting mad at her ALL THE TIME. he yells at her, he hits her. he's explosive and impatient. i realize he's having a hard time with her but that doesn't justify his horrible behavior. he loves her, yes, but he treats her bad
I think there's an element of that, but I read it as her having some mental health stuff exacerbated by a partriarchal society which the husband is a part of....I think it's also clear they love each other, and that he himself might end up committed if he was a woman considering how erratic and reactive he is
Though I do agree that he was abusive, he did love her. I'm not excusing his behavior, but neither of us were in his shoes, or living in that time where, unfortunately, society accepted and even led men to be more controlling. Yes, he was abusive and controlling, but yes, he did love her and would've laid down on train tracks for her. These were both complex characters who had unique experiences that all we can do is imagine being in their shoes, but none of us lived their character's lives, living in that time.
Haven’t seen this yet but based off of these highlights…is it possible her character has ASD. As it can be different for women than men and many times women get misdiagnosed with bipolar, anxiety, eating disorders, etc when in fact it’s ASD.
I'd argue she has borderline personality disorder. Due to how frequent her mood swings are iilts rapid .Bipolar disorder takes days weeks even months to switch.the film show how frequent it is but that's my opinion
I cant tolerate this woman for a year, even though i know alot about Psychology and can explain her behavior way better than Nick.... but Nick still chose to stick with her! KUDOS to all those going through this
think calling nick "abusive" in this film is a bit of a stretch. the man's wife, mother of his three kids is starting to lose her mind and he believes, reasonably, she is a danger to the family. Nick is a working class man and hard as it is to believe when this film was released mental illness was still fairly taboo, shameful among many in America. In our therapeutic contemporary culture it may be hard to empathize with how out of loss someone like Nick really would be when it comes to deciding what to do for his wife. Yes he should not have hit her--Nick does this twice, but it's established this is not a ritualistic, common thing for him to do at all. Couples do get physical sometimes in moments of high stress--a husband striking their wife is serious, should not happen, but if it does happen in an instant like in this film I don't think that qualifies the husband as "abusive." Humans are human, we make mistakes, terrible ones--how we apologize to them and how we forgive the ones we love when they do is what it's about, not abuse.
@@dvg4536 that's a beautiful rebuttal to the other comment. Nobody would claim that Nick is a perfect husband and of course striking a woman is never acceptable under any circumstances. If we want to demonize someone,how about Nick's mother? She hates Mabel for taking her som from her. She claims to want to help Mabel but she is exploiting Mabel's illness to drive a wedge between her and Nick. She can't accept that Nick has another woman in his life that he loves. For all you Gena Rowland fans out there, check out the Woody Allen movie called", Another Woman." It's a great film.
both people disagreeing with the original comment don’t remember that mabel asked her father for help when nick was trying to control her at the dinner table. she asks “dad, will you stand up for me?” and just so her meaning is clear to the audience her mother says to her father “don’t you understand what she’s asking?” but the truth is that everyone in mabel’s life is a bad influence on her mental health, not only nick
For that era, i think the husband is more of a supportive person.. even for today's standard... would you date a person with such mental problem??? even though she embarrases you all the time infront of your friends??? Come on now!!!
