On the Adamant, the winner of the prestigious Golden Bear at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, is a remarkable documentary that sheds light on mental health care and celebrates the patients’ creative talents. Let’s explore the film’s unique perspective on mental health care, its celebration of the patients’ unique talents, and its recent success at the Berlinale.
Summary
Nicolas Philibert’s eleventh feature, On the Adamant, is a documentary that explores a floating psychiatric facility in central Paris where patients participate in activities such as cooking, drawing, painting, borrowing books, and making music, all while receiving treatment for their mental health conditions. Philibert’s film showcases the patients’ creativity and highlights the effectiveness of art therapy in their treatment. The film provides a compassionate and intimate portrayal of the patients and their unique talents.
Director, director of photography, editor: Nicolas Philibert
Producers: Miléna Poylo, Gilles Sacuto, Céline Loiseau
Sales: Les Films du Losange
In French; will be released in French cinemas on 29 March 2023.
1 hour 49 minutes ; Editing: Nicolas Philibert, assisted by Janusz Baranek
Sound: Érik Ménard, François Abdelnour
Mixing: Nathalie Vidal
Director Nicolas Philibert
Nicolas Philibert is a French filmmaker known for his carefully observant documentaries that focus on a single character or location. Philibert is also the director of the acclaimed documentary, To Be and To Have. In On the Adamant, Philibert spends months aboard a barge anchored on the Seine in Paris to capture the patients’ experiences at the Centre de jour l’Adamant.
Review of On the Adamant
On the Adamant is an immersive and moving documentary that offers a compassionate and intimate portrayal of the patients’ experiences at the Centre de jour l’Adamant. Philibert’s film showcases the patients’ talents and highlights the effectiveness of art therapy in their treatment. The film is a testament to the patients’ resilience and creativity, despite their mental health conditions.
Philibert’s decision not to provide voiceover or explanatory titles allows the viewers to experience the patients’ experiences firsthand. The film’s discreet immersive experience is the opposite of the shock-and-awe documentaries currently popular on streaming platforms. The patients’ monologues have a poetic ring to them, providing a glimpse into their troubled past and their struggles with mental health conditions. However, there is also a fair amount of humor and self-deprecation, forcing viewers to look past the patients’ diagnosed conditions to see the individuals hiding behind.
Awards
The film premiered on 24 February 2023 at the 73rd Berlin International Film estival, where it was awarded the Golden Bear. It was additionally nominated for the Berlinale Documentary Film Award. The film’s compassionate portrayal of the patients’ experiences and its celebration of their unique talents make it a strong contender for future awards.
On the Adamant is a must-watch for anyone interested in mental health care, art therapy, or the power of creativity.
