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Information

Year
1967
Runtime
84 min.
Director
Frederick Wiseman
Genre
Documentary
Rating *
7.8
Votes *
3,320
Checks
1,292
Favs
110
Dislikes
6
Favs/checks
8.5% (1:12)
Favs/dislikes
18:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. MrE2Me's avatar

    MrE2Me

    Bleak, inherently disturbing documentary of the conditions at the Bridgewater State Prison for the Criminally Insane circa 1966. The camera doesn't flinch as it reveals the day-to-day activities of both the inmates (who spend most of their time naked - or nearly so - in small cells) and the staff. It's a fascinating but thoroughly depressing watch, that will stay with you. 13 years ago
  2. dantheman89's avatar

    dantheman89

    A lot going on that's gonna haunt you for a good bit afterwards - yeah Psychiatry was in its infancy back then ... but that's not excuse to treat people like that. As disturbing as the force-feedings, naked inmates smashing their heads into concrete, etc are - it's an important watch. Plus we'd do good to remember this wasn't just the 60s - there's plenty of stuff like that going on today, we're absolutely cool with.

    ... also a lot of what some of the "patients" say actually makes a lot of sense - particularly the indulgences guy.
    1 year 7 months ago
  3. mattjacobs188's avatar

    mattjacobs188

    Shocking stuff. Still as powerful today as it was back then, I'd imagine. 2 years 1 month ago
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In 9 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #15 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Documentaries of All Time
    Sight & Sound's The Greatest Documentaries of All Time's icon

    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    15
  2. This movie ranks #26 in Tim Dirks's 100+ Most Controversial Films of All-Time
    Tim Dirks's 100+ Most Controversial Films of All-Time's icon

    Tim Dirks's 100+ Most Co…

    26
  3. This movie ranks #52 in Harvard's Suggested Film Viewing: Non-Fiction Films
    Harvard's Suggested Film Viewing: Non-Fiction Films's icon

    Harvard's Suggested Film…

    52
  4. This movie ranks #100 in BFI's 100 Documentary Films
    BFI's 100 Documentary Films's icon

    BFI's 100 Documentary Fi…

    100
  5. This movie ranks #536 in Amos Vogel's Film as a Subversive Art
    Amos Vogel's Film as a Subversive Art's icon

    Amos Vogel's Film as a S…

    536
  6. This movie ranks #597 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time
    Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time's icon

    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    597
  7. This movie ranks #742 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films's icon

    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    742
  8. This movie ranks #888 in Library of Congress's National Film Registry
    Library of Congress's National Film Registry's icon

    Library of Congress's Na…

    888
  9. This movie ranks #892 in The New York Times's Book of Movies
    The New York Times's Book of Movies's icon

    The New York Times's Boo…

    892
View all lists this movie is in