Nise: O Coração da Loucura

Excellent true story, but execution was certainly flawed in its pacing, scene choices, and overall ability to connect the audience with the characters. Admirable performances from the ensemble cast, especially the eponymous Glória Pires as Doctor Nise da Silveira. An important story that needed to be shared with the world, but could have been told with more eloquence.

"If creativity, rebellion and innovation are indispensable vehicles to bring about change, Brazilian psychiatrist and health humanities pioneer Nise da Silveira was a shining example of these qualities. Born in the impoverished Northeastern region of Brazil in 1905, she was the first woman to graduate from her medical school, among 157 men. She was incarcerated in the Brazilian Uprising of 1936 by the fascist dictatorship, alongside protesting artists, writers, and political personalities; and she went on to face political and personal resistance to her ideas from a stoic, unchanging protocol of mental health care for schizophrenic patients."

Or overwatch, counsel and treat, if you want to interpret it like that. If you deal with people with mental health issues, you have to have patience. You won't go far if you try to will them into getting better. Tough love does not work in this cases ... if it works at all. To watch the way our main actress tries to get to the people is really draining and not for everyone to watch.

This is based on a true story and real people, which makes it even tougher to make. But there is enough going for the movie, if you let yourself into it and really cherish what it tries to do. Watch it only if you know you will not be annoyed or want something flashy. It really takes its time and while some scenes or outburst may seem repetitive, it only adds to the suspension and thee arc the movie gives its characters and their overall story...

I want to be careful to avoid spoilers and I don't think there really is much to spoil. This film was outstanding and reading the other review, I couldn't agree more. I saw it in Chicago at Siskel Film Center in Spring of 2017. If this Dr. accomplished even half of what was depicted she should be sainted. This film should be required watching for mental health professionals. She accomplished so much with people that were truly sick and did so in adverse conditions. Film students could learn as well about bio-pics. And talk about supporting cast...the patients around her made Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over...look sane. A few scenes might be troubling but don't let that put you off.

A story that is very important, not only for Brazil, but vital in the context of the health process, something moving and revolutionary, because the madness treated from a human point of view and as an instrument art, something very sensitive, something that values the ego of the person who has lost and wants to reintegrate life. A medical woman who believed in the power of love, to transform people who so badly need a way out.

The filmmaker is Paulo Pauloer, a great documentary filmmaker, made a documentary of Herbet Vianna (Herbet from Around 2009) and did this in detail. As protagonist we have one of the greatest Brazilian artists, Glória Pires, who made among other films, Se Eu Fosse Você (2006 and part II in 2009) and O Guarani in 1996.

Although conflicts and difficulties have been downplayed, and the ending seems hasty, the incident itself and the light spots on the characters are extremely dazzling