English Standard

[mayden546]

Could i please get feedback on this essay?
A Beautiful Mind presents the audience with a powerful exploration of mental illness, what it means to be ‘beautiful’ and ultimately, the power of the individual to overcome adversity.
How does Howard achieve this in the film?

Being able to experience and suffer an illness is somewhat normal to individuals as they regard it as  ‘come-and-go’ and a natural proclivity to their everyday lives. Mental illness, on the other hand, is beyond compare as to what people surmise as ‘non-fatal’ and/or non-destructive disease for an individual to inherit and experience throughout their lives. Despite the consequences of mental illnesses, individuals still believe and carry on the hope of being able to perceive things differently through the undying temperament of love coupled with the everlasting will that all individuals innately have in order to live their lives to the fullest and overcome the barriers that hinder their mental and emotional growth. Throughout Ron Howard’s 2001 film, ‘A Beautiful Mind’, reveals the effects of mental illness towards John Nash, the protagonist, and the world around him. Given that the film is about reaching to the audience to give them a perspective unknown to those who don’t have mental illness, this is also emphasised just from the title which would be symbolised as unique and different   from the societal norms. Nash’s interactions with other characters are explored in light of his conflicted understanding of reality and illusion, as well as his inherent ambition for recognition; both of which derive from his internal, mental conflict. Howard unravels the binaries of reality and allusions through his exploration of the truth of Nash’s schizophrenia while also conveying Nash's inability to see reality, due to the hallucinations and delusions induced by his mental illness; an uplifting story of perseverance and triumph over adversity.

Topics such as mental illness are very sensitive and provocative, as such—audiences are exposed to the unnerving and daunting reality of the effects of mental illness to the inhibitor and their interactions within the society. The film explores the overbearing truth about the nature and consequences of schizophrenia through the portrayal and depiction of John Nash. Hence, the composer is prompted to interpret this ideology through various film techniques and cinematics that captures the life of a person with such illness together with the hardship that entails. This is evident in the scene where Nash is laying down on the floor with his hands and feet tied. The low angle shot from Nash’s perspective with Charles in front of him shows the difference between their hierarchy, the act of being looked down upon due to his illness and subjugated situation. The non-diegetic sound of suspense laced with Dr. Rosen’s dialogue, “There’s no one there, John. There’s no one there.”, demonstrates the appalling effect of schizophrenia to John’s mind in which it distorts his reality wherein he couldn’t tell which is real anymore. The empathetic dialogue, “People and the places and the moments most important to you were not gone, not dead, but worse, had never been.” gives the viewers a feel of how painful and excruciating it is to realise that having the most cherished and crucial moments in their lives are not fake but not real in a sense that only the one who is experiencing the mental illness could see and visualise.

The scene where Nash is undergoing shock therapy also illuminates the hidden motives that Howard wants the audience to be cognisant towards the purposely confronting and provocative scene wherein mental illness can be detrimental to an individual; hindering their mental growth and interactions towards the society. The clinical and cold atmosphere radiating from the psychiatric ward illustrates the reality of mental illness where Nash is isolated from everyone else. This idea of isolation is also manifested through his sequestered manner of clothing where he is isolated in a way that the people around him is dressed white, symbolising purity and cleansing of oneself, coupled with the eerie but ambient sound following Dr. Rosen’s continual dialogue exploring the effects of schizophrenia. Concurrently, the scene shows 3 perspectives: Nash’s, Alicia’s, and Dr. Rosen’s. Through Alicia’s portrayal of her power play of love with Nash that despite all of Nash’s imperfections and impurities, the enduring nature of love still lives on to pave way for their love to grow, exemplifying the scene as a turning point for the responders; the point of the film in which the audience start taking on the different point of view and perspectives of other main characters which Howard meticulously manifests in order to develop empathy and sympathy for Nash and Alicia. "But then i look at him and I force myself to see the man that I married. And he becomes that man. He's transformed into someone that I love. And I'm transformed into someone who loves him.” elucidates the unconditional profound love that Alicia has for Nash in spite of all the things that hinders their relationship from growing. Her visceral nature strikes in and this all the more contributes to the fact that she has to fulfill her role as a loving mother and wife regardless of the situation that they are in, emphasising the meaning of being ‘beautiful’ by loving someone unconditionally without any frivolous or superficial assumptions.

In conclusion, overcoming adversity is, in a sense, arduous and sometimes impossible, but is perpetually inevitable as it is a prerequisite, a fringe benefit as humans. This in turn gives people a dignifying hope of betterment as individuals who longs for the benefits of life; love, ethereal love that only devoted partners would inherit – Alicia. Ron Howard’s 2001 film, ‘A Beautiful Mind’, explores the painful but empowering truth behind schizophrenia through John Nash’s perspective where it ultimately prompts the audience to sympathise and empathise with both his distorted and clear reality.