French Cancan

Diner Coudrier tells the waiter, "Bring me hookah, hashish..." (0:04)

Zizi pours water over a sugar cube into his glass of absinthe." (0:19)

Impresario Danglard lists to baker Paulo the ways he could kill himself: "I had no idea how to make my exit. The window? I hate heights. A revolver?. Too noisy. The gas? Disconnected." When Paulo attacks him he tells Paulo, "You're doing me a favor." Paolo responds, "You're too cowardly to do it yourself." Danglard says, "That's right." (0:57)

Nini's suitor Prince Alexandre pulls a revolver from under his coat, and as the camera moves to Danglard and Nini we hear a gunshot. (1:08)

absinthe | hashish | hookah | suicide

Mon Oncle Antoine

Spoiler alert!

The eldest son of the isolated Poulin family dies at home unexpectedly after a brief illness. (1:01)

Shopkeeper and undertaker Antoine and his foster child Benoit place young Poulin's body in a box. His mother cries. (1:18)

Antoine has been drinking all Christmas Eve and continues at the Poulin's home and on the long trip back by horse and sleigh. If you have read Farley Mowat, you understand how winter in the far north brings the matter of survival into sharp focus even without alcohol. Although we have no reason to believe that Antoine suffers from alcoholism we see how Alcohol Intoxication jeopardizes his life and that of Benoit. He is so impaired that, when the box containing Poulin's body falls off the sleigh Benoit wisely chooses to abandon the body in order to save himself and Antoine from certain death in the bitter Christmas cold.

Alcohol Intoxication | Bereavement

The Extra Man

Based on the Jonathan Ames book The Extra Man: A Novel.

Aspiring writer Louis, uncertain of his gender identity, "yearned to look in the mirror and see a pretty girl." He visits prostitute (?) Katherine Hart. We see Louis reading Psychopathia Sexualis by Krafft-Ebbing. (0:26)

Catherine makes Louis lie across her knees while she spanks him. (0:29)

Louis visits a bar for transsexuals and/or transvestites. (1:27)

Engaging in cross-dressing once more, Louis realizes his sexual orientation is toward the opposite gender after all, and maybe cross-dressing is not for him. (1:28)

Louis tells writer and roommate Henry, "Obviously I have some issues." (1:32)

Henry tells Louis, "I wouldn't rule out psychoanalysis." (1:40)

cross-dressing | Gender Identity Disorder | Sexual Masochism | Transvestic Fetishism

I'll Cry Tomorrow

Spoiler alert!

Singer Lillian's husband David dies, and she grieves. (0:27)

Lillian's nurse Ellen gives her whiskey to help her sleep. (0:38)

When they awaken in a hotel room her new husband Wallie tells Lillian they are married. She appears to have no memory of the wedding, presumably experienced by her during an alcoholic blackout. (0:43)

Lillian observes, "Drinking became our way of life." (0:44)

As her new friend Tony leaves, Lillian, appearing determined to stop drinking, pointedly puts her drank on the bar without taking a sip. (0:56)

Lillian's mother Katie tells Lillian, "You are going to become an old-fashioned drunkard." Lillian says, "I can stop drinking whenever I want to." She begins shaking so badly she cannot write a check. (0:58)

In a tavern the waitress tells Lillian, "The shakes, huh?... I know the signs. (1:01)

Back at home Lillian displays more signs of alcohol withdrawal. She thinks to herself, "Nothing could have that hold on me." (1:02)

Lillian: "But like all alcoholics I lied to myself... I told myself I was drinking because I was high strung and sensitive. I was an artist. I'd been hurt. One day it was to pick me up because I was down. Another it was to quiet me down because I was so high." (1:04)

Lillian tells Tony, "I've even read pamphlets from Alcoholics Anonymous." Tony says to Lillian, "Let's go on the wagon together." (1:09)

Lillian tells Katie that she must have a drink. (1:26)

After locking herself in her hotel room Lillian starts to write a note. She looks out the window and at the street far below. She walks to the other side of the room, takes a running start, but barely stops herself from jumping through the window to her death. (1:32)

As Lillian approaches a building we see a sign with the letters "AA." Alcoholics Anonymous members welcome her in and offer help. Member Burt and others provide support as she goes through alcohol withdrawal, apparently including hallucinations and withdrawal delirium. (1:35)

Lillian tells Burt, "I tried to kill myself in this room. Right at that window. I couldn't do it. It wasn't fear." Burt tells her about alcoholism, "... our quarrel with fate... All alcoholics have one." He recites the serenity prayer. (1:42)

Burt opens a meeting. We see the serenity prayer on a sign behind the podium. Member Richard talks about "skid row... the Bowery." (1:45)

Lillian asks Burt, "Since you are my sponsor, what does that make you to the people whose sponsor I am?" (1:49)

You can also read I'll Cry Tomorrow by Lillian Roth

alcoholic | Alcoholics Anonymous | alcoholism | Alcohol Withdrawal | Bereavement | blackout | on the wagon | serenity prayer | Substance Withdrawal Delirium | suicide

Cocaine Cowboys II

Extends the story started in Cocaine Cowboys, primarily focusing on the crack trade in Oakland in the '80's and expanding on the relationship between drug queen Griselda Blanco and her friend Charles Cosby mostly told by Cosby himself.

Introduction of crack cocaine to Oakland, California, with numerous shots of the drug in various forms and packaging. (0:04)

Step by step instructions on how to make crack from cocaine powder in your own kitchen. (0:07)

Users smoking crack with a variety of pipes. (0:08)

Shots of cocaine powder (0:48, 0:49, 0:50), crack (0:48).

cocaine

For My Father

Spoiler alert!.

We realize that Palestinian Tarek plans to detonate explosives strapped to his chest, killing himself and as many Israelis as possible. (0:04)

As Tarek reaches for the button to detonate his explosive vest he is interrupted by a cell phone call from his mother. When he tries again, the explosives fail to detonate. (0:14)

Tarek, returning to electronic repairman Katz' shop, finds Katz' wife Zipora appearing dejected and smells gas. He quickly opens windows and turns off the gas, apparently preventing her suicide. (0:25)

Shopkeeper Keren tells Tarek that Katz' son Yakir died while serving in the Israeli Army. She tells Tarek, "He's mad at the world." (0:31)

As Katz recounts the death of Yakir Zipora becomes more disturbed until she says, "Stop it." Tarek tells her his own father "won't get out of bed." (0:37)

Tarek tells Keren "Zipora is a bit sad. She, maybe she doesn't want to go on. This afternoon she didn't want to go on. Sometimes I don't want to either." (0:48)

Keren tells Tarek her unborn child died three months before it should have been born. (0:48)

Keren tells Tarek, "If I knew there was life after death, I'd kill myself."

After awakening on the beach Keren hears an explosion in the distance. (1:28)

Tarek's parents grieve the loss of their son. (1:29)

Bereavement | suicide

Devil in the Flesh

A high school principal's assistant tells two LA detectives that student Debbie Strand "had a nasty crush on Mr. Roberts... She was finally suspended when Mr. Roberts complained that she had been stalking him." (0:36)

High school teacher Peter tells the principal and the detectives, "You see Debbie believes that she's -- that we're -- in love with each other." (1:15)

Peter breaks into Debbie's room after hearing a gunshot. When he sees the blood-spattered curtains and a shotgun lying next to the unrecognizable lifeless body he assumes she has killed herself. (1:18)

de Clerambault's syndrome | erotomania | stalking | suicide

Surrogates

Detective Tom looks in the bedroom of his deceased son Robbie. (0:12)

Tom says, "I lost a son myself." Surrogate inventor Canter cries. (0:19)

Tom tells Canter how his son was killed in an automobile accident. (0:48)

Visitors to Tom's home appear to attain a euphoric effect or high using a fictional device. (0:50)

Tom talks to his wife Maggie about Robbie and takes an unidentified drug. (0:59)

Canter talks to Tom about the death of his own son. (1:15)

"Surrogacy is approaching addiction. You have to kill the addict to kill the addiction." Canter takes a pill to kill himself. (1:15)

Bereavement | suicide

Portrait of Jenny

A woman who knew them explains to artist Eben that Jenny's parents died during an aerial acrobatics accident when a wire broke. (0:32)

Jenny cries about the loss of her parents while sitting on a bench in Central Park with Eben. (0:34)

At the convent Mother Mary of Mercy tells Eben that Jenny died years ago. (1:04)

A rogue wave sweeps Jenny from Eben's grasp. (1:20)

Bereavement

Man Bites Dog

In this mockumentary a film crew follows serial killer Benoit as he commits numerous murders and disposes of the bodies. Although we see no evidence of an Axis I mental disorder, we see evidence of his character suggesting elements or traits of both Antisocial Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Benoit displays alcohol intoxication in a bar. (1:03)

Alcohol Intoxication | Antisocial Personality Disorder | Narcissistic Personality Disorder | psychopath

About a Boy

Based on the Nick Hornby book of the same name (About a Boy) this is one of the rare films that associate suicide with a psychiatric symptom or disorder, in this case depression. See if you can collect enough information to form a basis for a working diagnosis.

Marcus' mother Fiona cries while preparing food in the kitchen as Marcus sits nearby. (0:11)

Returning from the park, Marcus, his friend Will, and Fiona's friend Suzie find Fiona unconscious on a sofa. (0:24)

After she has returned home Fiona says she forgot the letter she left for Marcus. He challenges her, "You forgot a suicide letter?" (0:28)

Talking to Will, Marcus recalls finding Fiona after she tried to kill herself. (0:42)

Marcus, coming home, finds Fiona crying again. (1:14)

When Marcus asks a friend to accompany him in his performance at the school rock concert, she declines saying, "Its suicide. I mean they'll crucify you." (1:15)

Marcus tells Will that Fiona "sits in the house all day crying." (1:16)

Will barges into a support group for single parents. He tells Fiona, "Please don't try to commit suicide again." Fiona says, "I don't have plans to commit suicide... not at the moment." Will suggests they should talk about "this crying in the morning, this depression." (1:22)

depression | suicide

The Public Enemy

Would gangster Tom Powers meet diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder? Would you label him a psychopath?

Larry Dalton's mother cries at his wake. (0:16)

Antisocial Personality Disorder | Bereavement | psychopath

Nell

Spoiler alert!

llustrates the importance of due process in civil commitment to avoid involuntary hospitalization of someone who does not suffer from a mental disorder.

Country doctor Jerry enters the room in a psychiatric hospital where psychiatrist Paula Olsen watches through a one-way mirror as some kind of therapist works with a young male patient. (1:12)

Sheriff Todd Peterson comforts his wife Mary after she has been found sitting in front of the store crying. (0:16) Do you think she suffers from a mental disorder?

Paula and Jerry find Nell pacing, moaning unintelligibly, and crying. (0:17) Is she grieving the loss of her mother?

Paula and Jerry discuss Nell with psychiatrist Alexander Paley in a psychiatric hospital. Jerry corrects him when he refers to her as a "wild child." (0:19)

Paula and Jerry argue about whether Nell can give informed consent since she does not speak intelligible English and no one can interpret for her. (0:24)

Paula and Jerry argue Nell's case in front of a judge, apparently at a commitment hearing. (0:24)

A group of psychiatrists including Paula and Alexander watched a video recording of Nell taken at her home and discuss what they see. Paula says, "I've never seen such a perfect projection before. That's 'may,' 'me,' in the mirror. You'd think it would be the other way around but that's 'may' out there almost like she's displacing herself."
When another psychiatrist asks about (psychometric?) testing Paula replies, "We'll have to run competency tests before the court hearing..."
Explaining her speech Paula notes, "The mother was aphasic." (0:35)

Realizing why Nell refuses to leave the house during the day, Paula hypothesizes that Nell's mother Violet didn't want anyone to see her daughter, "Well that could be all that's keeping her from coming out in the daytime, a deliberately implanted phobia."
"So, what do we do with phobics? Get them to face what they're afraid of. Neutralize their fear. (0:51)

To combat Nell's phobia Jerry entices her out of the house with popcorn. (0:56)

Nell leads Paula and Jerry to the remains of the real May, her twin sister. (1:01)

Having realized that they can no longer insulate Nell from the outside world they take her to a psychiatric hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. The experience appears to shock her into a state resembling catatonia. (1:28)

Paula, Alexander, and Jerry discuss what to do about Nell in a conference. (1:31)

While Paula reads to Nell, Alexander, Jerry, and others, apparently psychiatrists, watch her from behind a one-way mirror. An unidentified psychiatrist says, "This isn't lower-level autism. That's for sure." (1:32)

Another hearing before a judge. Psychiatrist Alexander, on the witness stand, says "She displays many of the symptoms of Asperger's syndrome." (1:40)

Bereavement | civil commitment | competence | informed consent | phobia | psychiatric hospital | psychiatrist

All That Jazz

Choreographer and director Joe (representing Bob Fosse himself) takes a pill from a prescription bottle labeled Dexedrine. (0:01, 0:22, 0:35, 0:45, 1:03)

Angelique asks Joe: "Also heavy into speed, aren't you?" (0:8)

Standup comic Davis Newman on TV reviews Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and her stages of dying. (0:11, 1:29, 1:42)

Standup comic in nightclub tells the psychiatrist joke in which the doctor requires a patient with "suicidal tendencies" to "pay in advance." (0:21)

After she asks him what he just swallowed (probably more Dexedrine), Joe lies to his daughter Michelle: "It's a mint." (0:32)

Newman smokes a joint before repeating his routine about Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and her stages of dying. (0:56)

Joe demonstrates denial of the seriousness of angina. (1:07)

Joe's hospital cardiologist Dr. Ballinger lectures in a medical case conference: "Everything he does seems to be a denial of his condition." (1:18)

denial | dextroamphetamine | joint | Elizabeth Kübler-Ross | psychiatrist | suicide

To learn more about Bob Fosse's life and career (including a brief reference to psychiatrist Richard Ariola, MD) read:

No Greater Love

Overtly promotes a fundamentalist Christian approach following God's will to address marital problems, but look for elements consistent with a systemic approach and that of 12-step programs.

Jeff asks his son Ethan for approval of his plan to marry Katie, indicating she would become his mother. (0:16) Can a family function optimally in rearing a child by casting a step-parent in the role of "real" parent? What would be the risk in giving a child the responsibility of deciding whether a parent makes a particular choice for a new spouse?

Ethan's mother Heather explains to Jeff how alcohol, drugs, and depression affected her. Rather than make  amends, she asks forgiveness. (0:38) Here we see the contrast between the (apparently) Christian approach focusing on the injured party forgiving the offender and the 12-step approach focusing on the offender letting go of guilt by making amends.

When Jeff tells his friend Dave, "I'm releasing her," (1:38) his action mimics the 12-step notion of letting go (and letting God) also consistent with a systemic approach.

Heather's statement to Jeff, "You are the man I need." (1:42) reflects her choice to accept him as he is, a reversal of her resentment of some of his behaviors prior to the failure of their marriage and her disappearance.

amends | systemic therapy | higher power

Shinsengumi: Assassins of Honor

Samurai Yamanami informs the gathered clan that any who violate the code of conduct "will be subject to seppuku." Samurai Isami adds that "Seppuku is the highest honor that can be granted to a samurai."

Isami asks samurai Serizawa,: "Can you stop drinking? Please. You must stop drinking. But... "
Serizawa interjects, "If I were able to stop, I wouldn't be so wretched. And yet, I can't live without it.... I'm better off dead" (0:28)

A messenger tells Isami and Serizawa that samurai Niimi "manfully atoned by committing seppuku." (0:29)

A samurai states, "Anyone who violates our code must do seppuku." Later he says, "a samurai takes responsibility by dying." (1:18)

Clan accountant Kawai prepares to perform seppuku after it is discovered that 50 Ryu are unaccounted for. (1:21)

Yamanami performs seppuku. (1:31)

alcoholism | suicide

The Fallen Idol

Butler Baines, his wife Mrs. Baines, and his girlfriend Julie inundate the ambassador's young son Phillipe with demands to keep secrets, requiring him to lie, and demands to tell the truth, leading to conflicting loyalties for the boy and fears that he will betray those he cares about most.

family secrets

Short Circuit

When security forces mistakenly stop an older couple driving a pickup truck, mistakenly believing they are hiding the errant robot, the woman passenger tells the man who is driving, "I hope you took the grass out of the glove compartment." (0:55)

Short Circuit 2

cannabis

Radio

Spoiler alert!

Our first clues that James might be different from others are his facial expressions, postures, gait and behaviors. Do they suggest mental retardation? Autism? Asperger's? (0:01)

James' mother Maggie tells Coach Jones radio is "slower than most." We hear evidence of concrete thinking as James verbal production increases. (0:34)

Mr. Tucker from the school board says, "None of us has any experience with a severely retarded man wandering the same halls as our students." (0:54)

We see evidence of distance in the relationship between Coach Jones and his daughter Mary Helen. (0:58)

We learn that Maggie has died unexpectedly. Does James' reaction tell us anything about his diagnosis? (1:17)

Coach Jones opens up to Mary Helen about the neglected and abused boy he encountered on his paper route as a boy but never tried to help. (1:21)

James tells Coach Jones he does not want to move from 11th grade to 12th grade, suggesting discomfort with change. (1:36)

Coach Jones announces to the community that he plans to step down from his coaching role and spend more time with his family. (1:41) Has he been using his coaching role to distance from his wife and daughter? What was pushing him away from them?

We see the real James Kennedy and Harold Jones years later. (1:45)

Keep track of James and Coach Jones at:

The Official Web site of Radio and Coach Jones

Bereavement | concrete thinking | Mental Retardation