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Mental Major 
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TITLE |
Clean, Shaven (1993) |
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DISABILITY |
Mental
schizophrenia |
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DIRECTOR |
Lodge H.
Kerrigan
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NOTES |
The story of
Peter a schizophrenic told from his point of view. |
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Peter has
been in a mental hospital for several years and he |
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leaves
though 'insane' and untreated. He sets out to find his |
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daughter who
had been living with her grandmother but has |
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The aspect
of Peter's condition we mainly see is his |
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obsession
with being clean and free of body hair. |
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The story
element of the film is in some ways irrelevant. This |
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is a film
full of shocking, uncomfortable images which include |
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self
mutilation. In fact the film is so difficult to watch I can't
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recommend
it. Even the film's style is alienating with many |
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close-ups (a
la Pasolini) and some disjointed editing. The |
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acting is
not so important as the camera work. |
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The
pathology is horrific though I suggest not realistic (but see below). The
police procedure is amateurish and complicated by the main
detective's own quirky behaviour. For example he follows
his own daughter around and 'kidnaps' her so they can spend
the day together. |
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The police
are involved because Peter is suspected of killing a young girl. |
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Some of
course will gain insight from this film but that I think |
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would
require more than one viewing. |
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James
Bernardelli (see his review at IMDB) quotes a |
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psychiatrist
as saying "the best portrayal of untreated |
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schizophrenia ever [presented] on film." |
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Notes
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