I had been eager to watch this film since i first heard of it and was disappointed that it did not get a general release in the UK.The subject matter being very close to my heart (i work in mental health) pricked my interest.There are several films out there that deal with the subject of schizophrenia,With A beautiful mind ,The fisher king and Donnie darko probably being the most noted. I was captivated by Patrick from the start ,a very human character trying to deal with his illness the best he could , having been dumped in a care home by his overbearing mother. The fact that Patrick suffers from schizophrenia is never over played .The film is difficult to watch in parts mostly due to the abuse dished out by the orderly which made me cringe and the emotional abuse handed out by Patrick's mother, who has clearly convinced herself that everything she does is in Patrick's best interests.So when Patrick falls in love with a suicidal woman ,his mother sets out to turn the fact that Patrick is schizophrenic to her advantage she decides that because of his illness Patrick is not capable of being in love and convinces him that it was all just a delusion.This immense cruelty really hits home as it shows how people often dehumanize the mentally ill and class them as incapable of ever having a "normal" life! Not only is this film in itself educational about schizophrenia it is explained during the chief Gardie joke telling scene .It portrays people with mental illness as just that ..."people".
Review of Patrick's Day
