Titicut Follies
dir. Frederick Wiseman · 1967
Feature
Institutional Corruption
Mood
Dark / Contemplative
Look
stark black-and-white cinematography, minimalistic framing
Structure
observational and non-linear
Plot
A stark and graphic portrayal of the conditions that existed at the State Prison for the Criminally Insane at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and documents the various ways the inmates are treated by the guards, social workers, and psychiatrists.
Why watch
In the dimly lit corridors of the Bridgewater State Hospital, the camera captures the stark reality of life for the criminally insane, revealing the chilling interactions between inmates and their guards. Watching this film is like being thrust into a world where the boundaries of humanity are tested, and the viewer is left to grapple with the unsettling truths of institutional neglect and the fragility of mental health.
Cultural context
1960s mental health reform debatessocietal stigma surrounding mental illnessthe evolution of documentary filmmakingcritiques of institutional power