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PRESS + QUOTES
This observational film by Soda really questions the conventional
boundary that separates the mentally ill and healthy people.
- Naomi Kawase, Film Director
The uncontrollable nature of our SEISHIN, or mind, is depicted in its
raw form.
- Yuna Chikushi, Artist
Watching MENTAL, I smiled every 5 minutes, and cried 3 times. Without
a doubt, it is a masterpiece. It is meant for people who can't help
revering the human soul that is formless and mysterious.
- Dr. Shuhei Oyama, Psychiatrist
Great work. Marvelous movie. But an agony to watch.
It was one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen.
I wanted to cry. And I did.
- David B. Carren, Writer of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION tm
To draw the curtain between normality and what normality calls
abnormality is the purpose of this film. But more than that, the
curtain is drawn upon a beautiful theater, Yamamoto's office,
where beautiful characters slowly enlarge the world with
their joyful sadness.
- Jury's comment, Pusan Int. Film Festival
It is the unique film in the whole world of this quality and power,
with courage and humanity to cross the border.
These mental patients are talented people. They have human dignity.
They have human soul.Body can be damaged but soul can never be damaged.
And Soda understands this very well. It is a fascinating film with amazing quality.
- Vojtech Jasny, Film Director (ALL MY GOOD COUNTRY MEN)
Kazuhiro Soda's MENTAL deserves highest praise for its decency,
sensitivity, craftsmanship and honor. Amazing work!!!!!
- Richard D. Pepperman, film editor, author and teacher
Every so often a filmmaker raises a forbidden veil, allowing us as
viewers to step inside the Truth. Frederick Wiseman did that with
High School and Titicut Follies. Now Kazuhiro Soda:does it through
his prize winning documentary MENTAL. With one foot firmly rooted
in Japanese culture and the other inside NYC culture, Soda wins the
trust of Westerners as he escorts us across the cultural line to meet
the courageous patients in Japanese mental wards. I suspect Japanese
viewers feel equally privileged as they see their cultural secrets revealed.
- Jeannette Paulson Hereniko, President, iFilm Connections: Asia and Pacific
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