The+Fisher+King

The Fisher King media type="youtube" key="NHaZuRo3DZ4?fs=1" height="669" width="864" align="center"

Summary:  In The Fisher King, Jack Lucas is a successful radio host who has no care in the world except for himself and ignorantly gives out crude advice on his radio show. One day, an avid listener of Jack follows Jack's advice on how "there is no love" and kills seven people. Jack becomes the indirect cause of the death of seven people. Learning of this matter, Jack gives up his job and becomes despondent and depressed. He finally decides to drown himself in a river but is interrupted by two thugs who are about to set him on fire. He is finally rescued by Parry, a homeless man who is delusional and has constant visions of "fat floating fairies" and "red knights". Jack learns that this man is the husband of one of the seven people that he had "killed" and out of desperation to receive redemption tries to help Parry meet Lydia, a woman that Parry has fallen in love with. They quickly get along well. Yet Parry is once again struck with his delusions as he recalls the night his wife died, and he believes he is getting chased by the red knight. He accidentally gets into thug territory and gets beat up while he believes the red knight is inflicting the damage. Parry is sent to the hospital where he has gone into a catatonic state. Meanwhile, Jack decides to return to his job and leave his girlfriend, who has been helping him all along. He falls into his old selfish uncaring habits again, but then is suddenly reminded of Parry who he had decided to forget about. In desperation to help Parry, he sets out on Parry's imaginary "quest" to find the holy grail(only a trophy), and manages to steal it from a billionaire's house. Upon receiving the holy grail, Parry finally wakes up, completely sane. Disorder and Symptoms: The main character, Parry, shows many symptoms of Schizophrenia.  Hallucinations: Parry constantly states that he sees little floating people, and that he also sees red knights that chase after him.  Delusions: He also goes under the delusion that he is on a quest to find the holy grail, and that Jack is the "chosen one" that will help him.  Disorganized Thinking/Speech: Parry has a very erratic way of speaking and sometimes jumps from one topic to another. (sings randomely)  Hygiene: Parry obviously no longer cares for his hygiene and cleanliness as can be seen by his house and the way he dresses.  Other: Other symptoms that show that Parry is schizophrenic include that fact that he cannot work anymore, thus he is not functional, and that he lives (partly) in social withdrawal. Also, later on in the movie, he goes into a catatonic state.

Treatment (Real vs Film): Film: In the film, 'people' give no treatment (or very limited treatment) whatsoever to Parry and just leave him in the streets. People only label his as "crazy" and as just another mind jumbled bum on the street. Also we briefly see that when Parry goes into a Catatonic state, they also just leave him lying there, or perhaps at that point there is not much they could do.  Real: People with symptoms of schizophrenia are often given anti-psychotic medication yet the side effects are sometimes severe and medication is only capable of taking away positive side effects, not negative. Along with this, a combination of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication may be given. Schizophrenic people are also often given psychotherapy, yet once again, along with a combination of various other treatments.

What did you learn?: I learned that a person may not necessarily become Schizophrenic though they have the genetics for Schizophrenia. Oftentimes the disease is triggered. I also learned that such things cannot be reasoned out to people. Though it seems impossible that a supportive lecture with solid facts cannot fix the delusions, such methods are obviously beyond the question and to mention it only shows complete ignorance. I learned that these people no longer have any rationality left and convincing proof and arguments do not reach them at all. Perhaps even in many cases, they resist the truth and reality in order to protect themselves, and after all seeing is believing. I also learned or already knew that people don't know how to discern between "crazy" or "sick".

Reason for Choosing Film: I chose this film for no particular reason. It was only the third movie I looked at, but I chose it for IMBD said it was "comic", and I didn't want to watch a depressing, sad, traumatic, scary movie.

Assessment: Use of class time 5/5 Reason for grade: I didn't waste time in class.  Depth of work done 13/15 Reason for grade: I did some limited research on the symptoms and treatment methods for schizophrenia.  What I learned 4/5 Reason for grade: I didn't learn much from the movie itself. I did learn from the limited research and I was able to pinpoint the reason why such delusional beliefs found in schizophrenics persist; the delusions are what they live in. I realized this in the scene where Jack tried to remind Parry of who he was, and Parry goes completely berserk upon any mention of his past.  Wikispace's attractiveness 4.5/5 Reason for grade: I did what I can with a wiki. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Total 26.5/30