Sybil (1976)

A film that left me a while to ponder on the complexity of mental health issues and the significance of carrying a specific trauma that could interfere with a person's daily functioning. In this film, Sybil depicts a portrayal of a woman suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) due to her abusive and traumatizing childhood and is able to dissociate herself into 16 different personalities. Sybil's diagnosis with DID can be notably apparent in this case through her relationship with her abusive mother who is emotionally unstable, resulting in her expressing frustration towards Sybil in a horrifyingly abusive manner both physically and emotionally.

Sybil can also be seen as a child who wants her mother's affection, though unfortunately was only received with backlash and abuse. It has been found that children who lack emotional and social support are more likely to develop trauma-related dissociative disorders, what more if they are growing up in a family environment that is neglectful, which in this case, Sybil's father was not really supportive and caring for Sybil despite being aware of his wife's abusive treatment, and did not portray taking any form necessary action to protect and console his daughter. Hence, a child who feels that they are not supported to cope with difficult feelings and situations are likely to succumb on using dissociation as a way of dealing with trauma.

The dynamic of Dr Wilber and Sybil's therapist-patient relationship is particularly a stressful experience to witness and has made me realized how tough of a job that must be as a therapist, to carry immense patience and stable emotional regulation to deal with a patient that may also sometimes challenge a therapist's nature of work to breach boundaries. For instance, Dr Wilber has notably portrayed certain acts of breaching her boundary as a therapist by seeing her patient outside office hours. However, though it may be an act of going against her work boundaries, I believe it was a wise and responsible act to keep Sybil in control as she was about to risk her life by committing suicide.

Hence it may not be an act of negligence, but a mere act of protection which is essential in the nature of her work to keep her client safe at all times.

This film has provided me a broader perspective on the struggles individuals experience with DID and I would believe it is a film that would help alleviate the stigma towards DID patients who are often deemed to be scary, crazy and unstable. From the further research that I have done towards understanding this disorder, I have come to realize that the root to this stigmatized disorder is merely a coping mechanism to deal with overwhelming stress, having different alters cater to a specific stressful event, which is essentially a normal reaction we are all capable to have when faced with threat that is for instance, compromises of the 'fight' or 'flight' response.

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It has also gave me a better understanding and insight on educating me towards the nature of DID and it is a disorder that is in fact treatable with time. It goes to show that the mind is a very powerful thing that requires delicate care just as much as our own body, and with a healthy and capable approach to regulate our thoughts, it is always possible to take control of it in a better manner. Furthermore, with hope and adequate insight to accepting such mental disorders in our community as something that is less stigmatized, it will provide these individuals a much more secure and advantageous platform to recover and function normally again. 


Give hope.

Give love.

There will always be someone in this world who needs it,

Schindler's List (1993)

A truly mind boggling and powerful film that illustrates the tragic Holocaust war period alongside presenting the main character Oskar Schindler, who had saved the lives of many Jews by employing them to work in his factory. This is by far one of the greatest war films I've taken into liking and left me with a trail of thoughts that were inclusive of a haunting sense of loss towards the lives taken, as well as anger towards mankind's capability of residing in their utmost cruel nature. 

I like how the main character of this film, namely Schindler who possessed characteristics of a philanthropist on saving many lives, isn't depicted as the conventional hero who triumphs in his own victory and unflawed like what an admirable hero should be by possessing admirable traits, because Schindler in this case, had a very much flawed character at the beginning that compromises of him womanizing, conducting illegal business, and ultimately, residing in the greed for power and making more money. What was truly interesting to see, was the transition of his character from being a man obsessed with making money to a person obsessed with saving more lives towards the end of the film. And to make the scenario and his good deeds more complex to dive in, him buying of Jews from his list was an act of kindness that came along with a cost of risking him in more danger, which highlights a truly raw courageous act and a realistically depicted dilemma that can challenge one's perspective on taking the risk to do something good.

Besides depicting Oskar's kindness, the film shows me the reality and horrors of war that was able to set me uncomfortably in my seat. It leaves me to question the possibility of such immense cruelty in humanity, and along with the breeding resentment stemming from racism. Are human beings really that capable of committing such cruelty to torture and treat others like puppets whom they could kill out of no remorse and pity? Or are they merely programmed to just follow orders? 

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It is a truly scary, horrifying and heartbreaking experience to witness the cruelty stemming from  sufferings and fear among the victims of war alongside grasping the inhumane behavior of the perpetrators, or in other words, I would call them the senseless 'killing human machines'. Being a part of the post war generation, this film has instilled in me a stronger sense of being grateful for the little things in regards to being granted the privilege to be alive without going through the horrendous struggles victims in wars fight through. It is upsetting to see that we are just as inhumane and senseless as much as we are human beings who are perfectly capable of thinking and feeling in a just manner. 

- I believe no person deserves to inflict such amount of torture on others, because we are all human beings alike, and that torturing and taking a life alike is equivalent to taking a similar toll on oneself.

Ultimately, this film carries one significant message which is significant to ponder on, and that is the value of a life preserved, that brings this one important question to light, 

" How much is a human worth to you? "