Mental

2008. Japan. Directed by Kazuhiro Soda. Eschewing narration in favor of superimposed titles and music, this cinéma vérité look at an outpatient mental health clinic in Japan moves between patients, doctors, staff, volunteers, and home helpers. The film breaks a prevalent Japanese taboo against discussing mental illness and captures the candid lives of people coping with suicidal tendencies, poverty, shame, apprehension, and fear. In Japanese; English subtitles. 135 min.