Production
Production
Production
Sales & Festivals
Japan - USA | 2008 | Color | Observational Film | 135 min
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ProRes I JAPANESE I 23.976 fps I 16:9 I Stereo
SYNOPSIS
MENTAL is a documentary that observes the complex world of a unique outpatient mental health clinic in Japan, interwoven with patients, Dr. YAMAMOTO, staff, volunteers, and home-helpers. The film breaks a major taboo against discussing mental illness and captures the candid lives of people coping with suicidal tendencies, poverty, a sense of shame, apprehension, and fear of society.
FESTIVALS
- Berlinale Forum
- TIDF, Taiwan
- Cinema du Réel, France
- MoMA Doc Fortnight, USA
- BAFICI, Argentina
- It's All True Documentary FF, Brazil
AWARDS
- Busan International Film Festival 2008
Best Documentary Award
- Dubai International Film Festival 2008
Best Documentary Award
- Miami International Film Festival 2009
Special Jury Mention (For the courage of subject matter)
- Hong Kong International Film Festival 2009
Outstanding Documentary Award
- Visions du Réel 2009
Inter-religious Jury Prize
CAST & CREDITS
Director
DoP
Editors
Producer
Production
International Sales
Kazuhiro SODA
Kazuhiro SODA
Kazuhiro SODA
Kazuhiro SODA
Laboratory X, Inc.
ASIAN SHADOWS
PRESS REVIEWS
“An intense documentary that goes through a whole array of emotions."
-- Jonathan WILSON, Asian Movie Pulse
"In 'Seishin' (Mental), the Japanese director Kazuhiro Soda observes the patients and staff at a mental health clinic in the impassive, expansive manner of Frederick Wiseman's documentaries."
-- Dennis LIM, The New York Times
"This observational film by Soda really questions the conventional boundary that separates the mentally ill and healthy people."
-- Naomi KAWASE, Film Director