Five Films that Will Leave You Wanting a Lobotomy
Five Films That Deal With Lobotomy in Vastly Different Ways
Studying film and art can help us understand the cultures in which these artworks were produced and consumed. This holiday, we would like to suggest five films that feature lobotomies and that you can enjoy over the holidays.
We are also introducing our icepick rating system (five wooden icepicks being the best). Thus, grey ice-picks are just there to show the range. We will make a holistic judgment of the film, considering both our subjective enjoyment and its value in contributing to our understanding of the history of lobotomy and other scientific-medical methods aimed at transforming criminals into law-abiding citizens.
Man in the Dark (1953)
Ice-pick rating:
A criminal is freed after a lobotomy allegedly eliminates his criminal tendencies. His former co-conspirators kidnap him to try and get him to tell them where he buried the money they stole, but he cannot remember where it is. Chaos ensues in 3D (Old, very old 3D). For the brave ones among you, the whole film is available for free online.
Credit where credit is due. The movie appears to have been inspired by the real case of convicted criminal Millard Wright, posing a reasonable scenario for its time. The film’s portrayal of the side effects of lobotomy is somewhat accurate. In doing so, it depicts a time in which there was widespread optimism for the power of science to solve social ills. Having said that, this movie has not aged well, and its quirky special effects, while laughable, do not make up for the dry acting, the narrative and the pacing of the movie. This is the case even if its use of 3D technology was praised by some in the media when it was first released.Â
A Fine Madness (1966)
Ice-pick rating:
In this film, a desperate poet and womanizer is sent to therapy to address his problems. The supervising doctor agrees that the poet needs lobotomy out of anger and resentment for him, rather than therapeutic value. In broad terms, the film makes a mockery of mental health professionals and criticizes some aspects of American society. Much of this criticism is directed at mental health professionals who are depicted as revengeful, selfish, and unable to agree with one another. Â
This film does correctly depict that there were different approaches to treating mental illness, yet it makes a mockery of them all. It also begins to reflect a period where Americans are growing skeptical of mental health professionals and one in which they fear how these professionals wield the tools they’ve developed. Nevertheless, there is limited exploration of these techniques and they are mostly treated as a joke. While enjoyable, this is a rather bizarre film, and modern audiences may be perplexed by it. A young Sean Connery stars in this wild and amusing adventure.
A Clockwork Orange (1972)
Ice-pick rating:
A dystopic future based on the iconic novel by Anthony Burgess. The film follows Alex, a young criminal who receives an experimental treatment designed to transform criminals into good people. Alex is subjected to a fictionalized form of aversion therapy which does transform him. This transformation makes him suffer. Rather explicitly the film raises many questions about free will, choice, and the role science, medicine, religion, have to play in society.Â
Brilliant movie, and better novel. A Clockwork Orange managed to successfully translate the violence, the strangeness and the dystopian future of Burgess’ novel into an intriguing piece of media. We believe that the core of its brilliance lies in the ethical dilemma of the narrative: do we want good, or the choice of good? The film also explored how alluring scientific and medical solutions appear to be and how these may have unintended consequences. A film to be enjoyed with other adults as it is not suitable for children.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Ice pick rating:
Ken Kessey’s novel and the film based on it are potent critiques of mental health professionals. Nurse Ratched uses talk therapy, electroshock therapy, and lobotomy to control, subjugate, and humiliate her patients. In the film, McMurphy arrives at the ward and challenges the hegemonic Nurse Ratched.
Definitely an interesting watch. Falling on the bizarre. Kessey was a staunch critic of mental health professionals after having spent some time in such facilities. The novel and film both criticize mental health institutions giving primacy to subduing patients rather than curing them. Thus, it both casts doubt on the power of these tools to heal while reaffirming their ability to subjugate. Note that the film is a better entry point to understand those who criticized mental health professionals during the 1960s-1970s, rather than the state of the mental health profession. The acting is superb and the film is very entertaining. Nurse Ratched is spectacularly menacing and thus capable of quieting even the most rambunctious patients.
Shutter Island (2010)
Ice-pick rating:
This film is worth watching a second time because you will see it in a totally new light. The film includes some discussion of different treatment options and presents the use of lobotomy as a legitimate last resort. Shutter Island opens with its two protagonists making their way to a mental institution located at Shutter Island.
Given that this movie was released in 2010, and it is set in 1954, it adds layers of complexity to the historical analysis, since it takes the modern perspective on a different time, as opposed to reflecting on the time it was set in. Having said that, in terms of entertainment, this movie is perhaps most aligned with the standards of the casual film enthusiast. The narrative is gripping and unexpected, the cast does an excellent job, and the reasoning behind the use of therapeutic methods, such as psychoanalysis and psychosurgery, is fairly accurate when considering the time it is set in. History enthusiasts may find several historical inaccuracies and perhaps some aspects of the film rely too much on the fantasy and the drama. At times, it drags on a bit, but the finale is worth it.Â
We hope you enjoyed our articles about how these films deal with lobotomy and psychosurgery. There are even more movies that cover this fascinating subject and we cant wait to share them with you.
Lastly, we hope you have a wonderful and beautiful holiday with those who are important to you. Remember to take some time to appreciate them, and marvel.