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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187 new
Mulholland Dr.
2001 — a.k.a. Mulholland Drive, in 26 top lists Check -
153 new
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1975, in 35 top lists Check -
184 new
Blue Velvet
1986, in 27 top lists Check -
25 new
Donnie Darko
2001, in 21 top lists Check -
161 new
Black Swan
2010, in 12 top lists Check -
148 new
Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari
1920 — a.k.a. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, in 30 top lists Check -
158 new
The Sixth Sense
1999, in 20 top lists Check -
150 new
Solyaris
1972 — a.k.a. Solaris, in 28 top lists Check -
108 new
Videodrome
1983, in 18 top lists Check -
156 new
Twelve Monkeys
1995 — a.k.a. 12 Monkeys, in 14 top lists Check -
79 new
Shutter Island
2010, in 8 top lists Check -
121 new
American Psycho
2000, in 12 top lists Check -
70 new
Repulsion
1965, in 17 top lists Check -
186 new
Lost Highway
1997, in 10 top lists Check -
11 new
A Beautiful Mind
2001, in 12 top lists Check -
64 new
Pâfekuto burû
1997 — a.k.a. Perfect Blue, in 14 top lists Check -
188 new
Inland Empire
2006, in 10 top lists Check -
65 new
Pi
1998, in 6 top lists Check -
112 new
Dead Ringers
1988, in 12 top lists Check -
73 new
Såsom i en spegel
1961 — a.k.a. Through a Glass Darkly, in 9 top lists Check -
141 new
Kurutta ippêji
1926 — a.k.a. A Page of Madness, in 12 top lists Check -
56 new
La meglio gioventù
2003 — a.k.a. The Best of Youth, in 12 top lists Check -
113 new
Santa Sangre
1989, in 7 top lists Check -
110 new
37°2 le matin
1986 — a.k.a. Betty Blue, in 8 top lists Check -
157 new
An Angel at My Table
1990, in 8 top lists Check -
78 new
Shine
1996, in 6 top lists Check -
132 new
Stranger Than Fiction
2006, in 0 top lists Check -
35 new
Girl, Interrupted
1999, in 0 top lists Check -
31 new
The Fisher King
1991, in 4 top lists Check -
178 new
Revolutionary Road
2008, in 1 top list Check -
166 new
Falling Down
1993, in 1 top list Check -
106 new
Punishment Park
1971, in 5 top lists Check -
4 new
Troll 2
1990, in 2 top lists Check -
80 new
The Snake Pit
1948, in 4 top lists Check -
43 new
Images
1972, in 1 top list Check -
33 new
Gaav
1969 — a.k.a. The Cow, in 6 top lists Check -
159 new
Lars and the Real Girl
2007, in 1 top list Check -
131 new
La science des rêves
2006 — a.k.a. The Science of Sleep, in 2 top lists Check -
167 new
Frailty
2001, in 1 top list Check -
179 new
Sid and Nancy
1986, in 3 top lists Check -
29 new
Family Life
1971 — a.k.a. Wednesday's Child, in 3 top lists Check -
15 new
Bug
2006, in 1 top list Check -
185 new
Twin Peaks
1990, in 3 top lists Check -
83 new
Spider
2002, in 5 top lists Check -
133 new
Reprise
2006, in 2 top lists Check -
107 new
Scarecrow
1973, in 3 top lists Check -
71 new
The Ruling Class
1972, in 5 top lists Check -
20 new
The Cell
2000, in 1 top list Check -
176 new
The Ninth Configuration
1980, in 3 top lists Check -
130 new
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
2005, in 1 top list Check
Last updated on Aug 14, 2023;