Man Facing Southeast

This is an incredible movie. It forces the viewer to examine all parts of his/her life and begs the questions, who is crazy and who isn't.

In the movie's storyline, the question of course is, who is crazy--the mental patient or the psychiatrist? Both men seem to be equally intelligent and believeable. But the doctor has the upper hand in this situation, unfortunately.

From the opening sequence with the heavy footsteps of the nurse and her shocking news to the famous "blue liquid", this movie is both magical in its innocence and brilliant in its examination of human nature.

The movie also serves as a commentary on mental illness and how even in this day and age, we as the "sane public", feel uncomfortable enough with mental illness to wish it to be suppressed, quieted and hidden. What's sad and surprising about this movie, however, is that the psychiatrist also follows popular opinion and denys the existance of the possibility of what may actually be right in front of him. Instead of being a man of science, instead of being curious, the doctor takes the easy way out. But I guess one can't fault the doctor for being terrified of the unknown, but since the patient seems to offer no reason to fear him, the doctor could have taken another path.

This movie and the topic shown reminds me of a college professor who talked so much about "absolute knowledge". Hitler possessed absolute knowledge about Jewish people and we all know the results of that "knowledge". The psychiatrist also possesses absolute knowledge...he knows Rantes(if I remember the character's name correctly after 10 years) certainly can't be an alien, therefore he must be insane. But there is evidence in the movie to the contrary and the doctor is blind to that evidence. Therefore, the doctor operates on his absolute knowledge that eventually results in death...just like Hitler. Sooner or later, people realize that absolute knowledge exists mainly and only in mathematics...certainly not in human nature.

Hopefully the viewer learns a thing or two from this movie and always views life with an open mind. Minds are like parachutes...both only work when open.


On becoming compassionate   April 4, 2003
Roodles (Crescent City California United States)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

I am a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who saw this picture many years before I imagined I would be going to medical school, let alone becoming a psychiatrist. It has been one of my favorite films, maybe THE favorite. Its beautiful rendition of music overlaying the tragic Christlike tale of misunderstandings, betrayals, and "rational" human denials of subconscious truths was powerful. I have shown it to anyone I could who worked with me in the mental health system. I still rely on it to remind me of why compassion heals, and human connection; not medication, or psychotherapy, or other knowledge I might have. Since I have seen it countless times, and have a video I don't watch for fear of wearing it out, I would be ever so grateful if it came out in DVD. I might even buy a DVD player.


Great, memorable film   November 9, 2001
From_Plano_TX (Plano, TX USA)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

This is a fabulous picture. It is science fiction without space ships or ray guns. And who needs any monsters besides humans? The movie is poetic and thoughtful. This is a must-see film.


A beautiful film   February 27, 2003
Kerenza (Garland, TX)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I watched this film as part of a Word Lit. class with an emphasis on films (since my prof. is a foreign film fanatic). I positively adored the film, especially because it leaves not only the outcome, but the entire action, open to interpretation. You can even see Rantes as a sort of Christ, with the doctor and girl taking on the obvious roles. My favorite scene was the "Ode to Joy" scene; it really did fill me with joy and I was smiling and ecstatic by the end of it. "K-PAX" is an obvious ripoff, and a sorry one at that. See this film! You won't regret it.


The Human Condition   April 23, 2006
Dr. Harry Smallenburg (Burbank, California USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

One of the great things about contemporary media is that we can collect films that are unusual, beautiful, or particularly meaningful, and we don't have to be stuck with the endless minlessness of most commercial films. I remember this film as powerful, simple but moving in its theme: the "extraterrestial" being observes people on earth and cannot figure out why they make themselves unhappy and why they cannot respond to each other's unhappiness. The psychiatrist assigned to work with this being, who sees more deeply into humans than the psychiatrist himself, has a chance for happiness but rejects it because he can't believe in the simplicity of the solution. He acquiesces in destroying the one person who has tried sincerely to help him. A very strange and ironic film that tries to bring human beings to their senses but suggests that they are beyond help and must destroy any potential saviors. Worth having in your collection for its meaning and overall impact, especially its haunting score.