Dramatic insight into mental illness

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33665, 15 October 1974, Page 20

Dramatic insight into mental illness

Paul Maunder, the writer and director of last evening’s “One of Those People that Live in the World” set out to make people understand a little more about the nature of what is termed ‘madness.’

The National Film Unit; production, presented as a two-part dramatised television documentary, will cer-[ tainly achieve this objective.] In the first part, Julie,: played by Denise Maunder, the writer’s wife, recollects: events contributing to her: breakdown. In this there were

d some intensely descriptive encounters which explained her struggle for reality. The challenge the film faces is to obtain audience interest while exploring the, exceedingly complex series of inter-personal disasters the adopted Julie suffers fronts childhood. | Sometimes it succeeded . with a high degree of sensi- . tivity and perception — such; , as when Julie confronted a i bemused, but vaguely sympa- ; thetic lecturer. 1 Denise Maunder showed a ’ depth of understanding of a difficult role she was called ’ on to play, but she was not ’ matched by Russell Duncan, • as the father, and Helen 1 Brew, as the mother. ' There was little mounting tension conveyed in the 1 family, especially when Julie ■ came to resent the smother- ’ love of her adopted mother • and the cold impersonal i attitude of the father. ; Julie’s husband was played by John Reid, but here again,

' the depth of frustration, lack of understanding, and craving for security by Julie was not reflected in the acting of i the couple. John Reid I seemed merely to go through : the motions without acting as the bewildered Kiwi husband — perhaps by hitting the 'booze or attempting to bully his wife.

' The film has two levels — 1 exploration of mental illness itself and of the girl. ; There were several deft : touches as Julie attempted to “i match up to the image of a : happily married young wife. '■ And the two scenes, in which l :she was interviewed and . examined by an aloof general 1 practitioner were all too ’ familiar and convincing. 'I The Maunders spent two •iweeks at Kingseat Hospital, ’Auckland, and the second part of the film deals with Julie’s treatment. The film is a brave attempt to deal with a difficult, complex, but important subject. It has its weak spots, but Denise Maunder rises to the occasion to pull it through these. It is the kind of programme that should be shown, and at the end of the second part should have made a contribution towards greater understanding of “This Kind of Living.” I —K.C.