Review of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) by Tjman09 — 20 Oct 2015

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was a social protest film that attacked the social stereotypes and tragic failures of the mental health system. The film pulls no punches and is often hard to watch, but is so powerful in it’s message that it remains a classic film of the 1970’s. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a complex film, about complex people misidentified as simple. Much like other modern protest films One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest applies to one societal problem, but can transcend its subject matter and represent more modern problems, making it truly timeless.

Many films have approached the community aspect of human life, some attacking it some defending it, this film seems to do both at the same time. The film contains a major paradox, both criticizing those who shun people from society for their differences, while showing that community is part of the human way of life, and that even society’s rejects need community. Most of the shots throughout the film are medium or close ups, which most likely represents what a close group the patients are. It’s both tragic, brilliant, and heartwarming to see how a group of neglected and forgotten people can band together, when society turns its back on them.

The most impressive aspect of the film is the treatment of the characters, which is most likely a representation of the time it came out. Many of the characters in this film are connected by the fact that they have mental health issues, and they are rejects, but the characters are all distinctly different characters, and not just stereotypes. The treatment of the characters is impressive in it’s own right, because today critics would probably say that the film is insensitive, it’s humor is occasionally a little crude, but it’s the exact opposite, the characters are treated as normal human beings, which is the most equal way to treat any character in any film.

The movie contains a very angry message pointed at the methods of treatment for the mentally ill, and is an extremely powerful, albeit a little hard to watch, because of it. Simply put as the film progresses we see all of these characters, go through the horrific treatment they were subjected to, all the while following one main character, Randle. By the end of the film the main character is a vehicle for the message being sent, as the story takes Randall, a broken man, and breaks him permanently. By the end the audience should realize that they have watched a film, exemplifying the tragedy of the failing system.

In conclusion One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a powerful, social protest film that uses great characters to send it’s message. Beautifully acted, tragic, and infinitely complex, its message transcends its subject matter and represent a tragedy of the system’s ineptitude. It’s also one of the few movies that can tackle such a tough subject with care, respect, and finesse, it’s just in general a great film.