Kazuhiro Soda’s documentary on a mental health clinic in Japan observes patients and staff in great depth. Patients gradually unravel their stories and how the clinic has helped them. Never relenting the films shows all, the camera never quits. Dr. Masatomo Yamamoto is seen as a God in the eyes of his patients and a hero to everyone else, he has sacrificed everything to give those with mental illness the care and attention they need. If Mental has one objective, it’s to make it clear that the world (or at least Japan) needs more people like Dr. Masatomo Yamamoto. Even Kazuhiro Soda is given a God like quality for he is one of the few individuals not afraid of them and willing to listen to their tales. Most of the patients stories are unextraordinary apart from a charismatic poet’s insightful and well expressed views on life, they’ll fill you with wonder.
While too much time is spent capturing every moment no matter how mundane, through the madness there is still a desire to live, and to live as easily and peacefully as possible. With money and the quality of mental health care being cut in Japan, Mental is a final cry for help to stop ignoring those who are most vulnerable, to give them a voice and listen to everything they have to offer. It’s not all completely crazy.
