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/