Nise: The Heart of Madness

I'm sorry that I don't have more time to do a full review, but I watched this film in the Brazilian Embassy in London last night (26th October) and I was blown away. It was incredibly inspirational and emotional, and all the actors do an amazing job, so does the director, who was in attendance at the screening. I can't recommend this film highly enough, and the fact that it is based on a true story is even more amazing. While it doesn't go into great depths about the patients and their symptoms, it shows enough to draw you in and gain an understanding about their struggles.

At the end of the day this is a feel good movie about hope, overcoming adversity and the hidden talents we all possess, even those of us, who society has given up on. I really hope it reaches a wider audience as the director seemed like a really humble guy, and he deserves all the praise her gets.

A story that is very important, not only for Brazil, but vital in the context of the health process, something moving and revolutionary, because the madness treated from a human point of view and as an instrument art, something very sensitive, something that values the ego of the person who has lost and wants to reintegrate life. A medical woman who believed in the power of love, to transform people who so badly need a way out.

The filmmaker is Paulo Pauloer, a great documentary filmmaker, made a documentary of Herbet Vianna (Herbet from Around 2009) and did this in detail. As protagonist we have one of the greatest Brazilian artists, Glória Pires, who made among other films, Se Eu Fosse Você (2006 and part II in 2009) and O Guarani in 1996.

Excellent true story, but execution was certainly flawed in its pacing, scene choices, and overall ability to connect the audience with the characters. Admirable performances from the ensemble cast, especially the eponymous Glória Pires as Doctor Nise da Silveira. An important story that needed to be shared with the world, but could have been told with more eloquence.

"If creativity, rebellion and innovation are indispensable vehicles to bring about change, Brazilian psychiatrist and health humanities pioneer Nise da Silveira was a shining example of these qualities. Born in the impoverished Northeastern region of Brazil in 1905, she was the first woman to graduate from her medical school, among 157 men. She was incarcerated in the Brazilian Uprising of 1936 by the fascist dictatorship, alongside protesting artists, writers, and political personalities; and she went on to face political and personal resistance to her ideas from a stoic, unchanging protocol of mental health care for schizophrenic patients."

Nise da Silveira was a revolutionary Brazilian psychiatrist. Nise: The Heart of Madness aka Nise: O Coração da Loucura (2015) shows how she changed psychiatry and fought against the cruel treatments that were used in her time.

But before getting in the movie I'd like to tell you a little bit of her previous story, which the film doesn't cover. She graduated in Medicine in 1931. The only woman between 158 students. She was arrested during Estado Novo, Getúlio Vargas dictatorship, accused of having connections with Comunism. After struggling to have an opportunity, she was hired in Centro Psiquiátrico Nacional Pedro II and that's exactly the point where the movie begins.

Her story, the plot, is very interesting, beautiful and touching. I won't tell you what she did, I'll just say it's simple yet very smart. Not by chance got the attention and the support of Carl Gustav Jung, one of the most important physicians ever.

The screenplay is great, with memorable lines and scenes. Also, with a very enjoyable pace. The period of her life covered was cleverly chosen. Not big nor small. Enough to make a cohesive and engaging narrative.

Glória Pires is very recognized in Brazil, for movies and soap operas. She is a fantastic actress, very natural and realistic and nailed as Nise, giving the character seriousness but also charisma. The support actors were great too and I highlight the ones that portrayed patients. They made the movie very realistic with the semi-documentary feeling great biographies give.

In this path, the Costume Design and the Set Design helped a lot with the realism.

And the cinematography, scores and shots by Roberto Berliner made the movie even more beautiful, touching and worth watching.

I want to be careful to avoid spoilers and I don't think there really is much to spoil. This film was outstanding and reading the other review, I couldn't agree more. I saw it in Chicago at Siskel Film Center in Spring of 2017. If this Dr. accomplished even half of what was depicted she should be sainted. This film should be required watching for mental health professionals. She accomplished so much with people that were truly sick and did so in adverse conditions. Film students could learn as well about bio-pics. And talk about supporting cast...the patients around her made Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over...look sane. A few scenes might be troubling but don't let that put you off.