Schizophrenia in Film
Created by Minkin.
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As someone who is a diagnosed schizophrenic, I wanted to make a (one day, hopefully) complete list of films depicting either the lives of individuals with schizophrenia (Shine; Adele H.), or films which explicitly depict individuals with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
I'm sure you could read thousands of films as having a schizophrenic character (e.g. Christopher Robin in Winnie the Pooh), but this is for actual depictions of individuals with schizophrenia.
Do note: Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder) is a completely separate diagnosis than schizophrenia.
Here is the clinical definition of Schizophrenia:
DSM-V Diagnostic Criteria of Schizophrenia 295.90 (F20.9)
A. Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1 -month period (or less if successfully treated). At least one of these must be (1 ), (2), or (3):
1. Delusions.
2. Hallucinations.
3. Disorganised speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence).
4. Grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour.
5. Negative symptoms (i.e., diminished emotional expression or avolition).
B. For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, level of functioning in one or more major areas, such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, is markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset (or when the onset is in childhood or adolescence, there is a failure to achieve expected level of interpersonal, academic, or occupational functioning).
C. Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A (i.e., active-phase symptoms) and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or by two or more symptoms listed in Criterion A present in an attenuated form (e.g., odd beliefs, unusual perceptual experiences).
As this is a forever work in progress, all suggestions are welcome. Although I only plan on adding films which are actually available to watch - so no obscure unwatchable lost films please.
Also note, films listed prior to Il colore dei suoi occhi (1991) are "reasonably confident" to have a schizo presence, and Il colore dei suoi occhi and after - I am less confident about there being a schizo aspect.
If I ever finish this project, I want to turn it into a book: a schizo guide to schizo films.
Films will be added and some might disappear as I watch them and make the final call of whether its schizo enough to make the cut. Again, this needs to be explicit, as I can read schizo traits in every single film - (Im currently developing a schizo reading of literature/film; currently working on a schizo reading of Star Trek Deep Space 9) as most humans have some of these qualities to them, but not to the extreme that schizo folks suffer with. Unless you know the torture of having no control over reality - you won't know why its important to have (positive) representation - so that maybe one day you too can feel the agony of existence as a schizo person - through the medium of film - and maybe then, hopefully one day, we can be celebrated for our divine perspective - for we know experiences that the rest of humanity can only guess at. So I want film to be the basis of respect, even when the film approaches us with hatred. For we know that all too well - as most of us die by our own hand, or on the streets - wandering a world we don't understand, with reality itself being something you never take for granted. So be glad you don't have our experience - for you will know that reality itself is sacred.
Do note:
-Everything prior to 15 Park Ave has been personally vetted and approved by me to be media with schizophrenia
-This is primarily a list of ALL possibilities - so some titles may be removed if, after scrutiny, I find they don't contain schizophrenia.
I have two companion lists to this one:
1) Schizophrenia in Film that I have personally vetted and approved.
https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/schizophrenia+in+film+personally+vetted/minkin/
2) Replications of psychosis in film - aka films that reproduce the experience of psychosis (hallucinations / delusions / disorganized speech)
https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/films+which+replicate+psychosis/minkin/
Pssst, want to check out the Schizophrenia in Film list in our new look?
Filter
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5 new
15 Park Avenue
2005, in 0 top lists Check -
110 new
37°2 le matin
1986 — a.k.a. Betty Blue, in 8 top lists Check -
160 new
55 Steps
2017, in 0 top lists -
6 new
Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse
2013, in 0 top lists Check -
121 new
American Psycho
2000, in 12 top lists Check -
157 new
An Angel at My Table
1990, in 8 top lists Check -
7 new
Angel Baby
1995, in 1 top list Check -
165 new
Ansikte mot ansikte
1976 — a.k.a. Face to Face, in 2 top lists Check -
8 new
Apart
2011, in 0 top lists Check -
129 new
Arpointeu
2004 — a.k.a. R-Point, in 0 top lists Check -
142 new
Asylum
1972, in 0 top lists Check -
9 new
Autumn Leaves
1956, in 0 top lists Check -
10 new
Barefoot
2014, in 0 top lists Check -
11 new
A Beautiful Mind
2001, in 12 top lists Check -
12 new
Benny & Joon
1993, in 0 top lists Check -
14 new
Beyond the Dream
2019, in 0 top lists -
161 new
Black Swan
2010, in 12 top lists Check -
184 new
Blue Velvet
1986, in 27 top lists Check -
15 new
Bug
2006, in 1 top list Check -
118 new
The Butcher Boy
1997, in 4 top lists Check -
16 new
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
2013, in 0 top lists Check -
17 new
Camille Claudel
1988, in 2 top lists Check -
18 new
Canvas
2006, in 0 top lists Check -
19 new
The Caveman's Valentine
2001, in 0 top lists Check -
20 new
The Cell
2000, in 1 top list Check -
21 new
Clean, Shaven
1993, in 3 top lists Check -
102 new
Il colore dei suoi occhi
1991 — a.k.a. On My Own, in 0 top lists Check -
22 new
Conspiracy Theory
1997, in 1 top list Check -
137 new
Un conte de Noël
2008 — a.k.a. A Christmas Tale, in 4 top lists Check -
109 new
Crimes of Passion
1984, in 0 top lists Check -
23 new
Danika
2006, in 0 top lists Check -
148 new
Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari
1920 — a.k.a. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, in 30 top lists Check -
98 new
Das weiße Rauschen
2001 — a.k.a. The White Sound, in 0 top lists Check -
112 new
Dead Ringers
1988, in 12 top lists Check -
119 new
Déjà Vu
1997, in 0 top lists Check -
169 new
Delírios de um Anormal
1978 — a.k.a. Hallucinations of a Deranged Mind, in 0 top lists Check -
149 new
Dementia
1955, in 2 top lists Check -
144 new
Derailroaded
2005, in 0 top lists Check -
175 new
Des nouvelles de la planète Mars
2016 — a.k.a. News from Planet Mars, in 0 top lists Check -
24 new
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
2005, in 0 top lists Check -
104 new
Diario di una schizofrenica
1968 — a.k.a. Diary of a Schizophrenic Girl, in 0 top lists Check -
193 new
Diary of a Schizo
1972, in 0 top lists Check -
13 new
Die Berührte
1981 — a.k.a. No Mercy No Future, in 0 top lists Check -
126 new
Dom durakov
2002 — a.k.a. House of Fools, in 0 top lists Check -
25 new
Donnie Darko
2001, in 21 top lists Check -
146 new
Doraemon Nobita no Takarajima
2018 — a.k.a. Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Treasure Island, in 0 top lists -
1 new
Double Down
2005, in 0 top lists Check -
26 new
Dream No Evil
1970 — a.k.a. Now I Lay Me Down to Die, in 0 top lists Check -
162 new
The Dream Team
1989, in 0 top lists Check -
114 new
Drop Dead Fred
1991, in 0 top lists Check
Last updated on Aug 14, 2023;