I have not yet seen the film, but will definitely see when it gets released in UK. One comment about the tea bit .. it sounds like literal translation from Bengalee.. lot of times you say 'let's' when asked whether you are interested in having tea in Bengalee.
"It must have been daunting to figure out an end to this film, and writer-director Aparna Sen probably thought it was best to leave the film open for individual reading. Since the film's subject is already challenging, this choice risks leaving the viewer confused instead of pensive."
Does she really have any other choice, or for that matter anybody else including the medical profession,when this psychotic disease is playing truant at 100% cure, despite extensive research over the decades? What we've found so far is that the condition can only be 'modified' to effect a certain turn-around from the extreme introvertedness to which the afflicted got descended by traumatic experiences of the distant past, but to expect the impaired brain-chemicals to function as in the normal cases, defined by the metabolic & physiological parameters, is sort of plain wishful-thinking. The bottomline: Once schizophrenia sets in to take away the cream of one's life, it's going to be for ever, unless any path-breaking gene-research comes out with a bang!
I know it is unusual to respond to promos of films being aired on television. But then the promo of 15 Park Avenue is different because it deals with Schizophrenia, an incurable, disabling, brain illness, as serious as Cancer. Most Indians perceive people with Schizophrenia as wild, inhuman creatures with matted hair, muttering nonsensically, being dragged for ECT sessions, popularly perceived as shock therapy, people who are burnt out , basket cases who have no future and are incapable of ever being able to do anything useful or productive and so on.
Promos of films aired on television reach out to every home in the remotest corner of India. They wield tremendous power, shape perceptions and influence attitudes. Many filmmakers say that it is artistic license, up to the viewer to discriminate. How can the vast majority of the vulnerable, poor and ignorant Indians discriminate when they are unaware that treatment exists for mental illness? As one young man struggling with schizophrenia said, Is it any surprise that Indians are still keeping their mentally ill family members in chains?
The contrasting realities that constitute the world of a schizophrenic as compared to a normal person.- This is purportedly what Aparna Sen, aims at conveying through her film 15 Park Avenue. While I agree that when a person has a breakdown, which can occur many times in the life of a person with Schizophrenia, they may look like the way Konkona Sen is being picturised in the film- haggard, dark circles around her eyes, grey streaks sticking out of her hair and an incomphrensible expression, most of us limost of us living with Schizophrenia are well-groomed, articulate and dont look any different from any other normal, sane person. With medication, therapy a conducive living environment, modifications in our diet, exercise and yoga, we can have relationships hobbies, hold part-time jobs like any other person with disabilities. While I understand artistic liberty, isnt it strange the way that the media in India depicts people with mental illness in a stereotyped way?"
It hurts when people keeps referring to us as Schizophrenics. It is a derogatory label. We are people with schizophrenia."Do they refer to people with Cancer as Canceric?
