Customer Reviews

Man Facing Southeast [VHS]

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow, what a movie. I saw it about 10 years ago and come here periodically to check to see if it's available on DVD...it looks like maybe it will be available soon!!

This is an incredible movie. It forces the viewer to examine all parts of his/her life and begs the questions, who is crazy and who isn't.

In the movie's storyline, the question of course is, who is crazy--the mental patient or the psychiatrist? Both men seem to be equally intelligent and believeable. But the doctor has the upper hand in this situation, unfortunately.

From the opening sequence with the heavy footsteps of the nurse and her shocking news to the famous "blue liquid", this movie is both magical in its innocence and brilliant in its examination of human nature.

The movie also serves as a commentary on mental illness and how even in this day and age, we as the "sane public", feel uncomfortable enough with mental illness to wish it to be suppressed, quieted and hidden. What's sad and surprising about this movie, however, is that the psychiatrist also follows popular opinion and denys the existance of the possibility of what may actually be right in front of him. Instead of being a man of science, instead of being curious, the doctor takes the easy way out. But I guess one can't fault the doctor for being terrified of the unknown, but since the patient seems to offer no reason to fear him, the doctor could have taken another path.

This movie and the topic shown reminds me of a college professor who talked so much about "absolute knowledge". Hitler possessed absolute knowledge about Jewish people and we all know the results of that "knowledge". The psychiatrist also possesses absolute knowledge...he knows Rantes(if I remember the character's name correctly after 10 years) certainly can't be an alien, therefore he must be insane. But there is evidence in the movie to the contrary and the doctor is blind to that evidence. Therefore, the doctor operates on his absolute knowledge that eventually results in death...just like Hitler. Sooner or later, people realize that absolute knowledge exists mainly and only in mathematics...certainly not in human nature.

Hopefully the viewer learns a thing or two from this movie and always views life with an open mind. Minds are like parachutes...both only work when open.

I am a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who saw this picture many years before I imagined I would be going to medical school, let alone becoming a psychiatrist. It has been one of my favorite films, maybe THE favorite. Its beautiful rendition of music overlaying the tragic Christlike tale of misunderstandings, betrayals, and "rational" human denials of subconscious truths was powerful. I have shown it to anyone I could who worked with me in the mental health system. I still rely on it to remind me of why compassion heals, and human connection; not medication, or psychotherapy, or other knowledge I might have. Since I have seen it countless times, and have a video I don't watch for fear of wearing it out, I would be ever so grateful if it came out in DVD. I might even buy a DVD player.

One of the great things about contemporary media is that we can collect films that are unusual, beautiful, or particularly meaningful, and we don't have to be stuck with the endless minlessness of most commercial films. I remember this film as powerful, simple but moving in its theme: the "extraterrestial" being observes people on earth and cannot figure out why they make themselves unhappy and why they cannot respond to each other's unhappiness. The psychiatrist assigned to work with this being, who sees more deeply into humans than the psychiatrist himself, has a chance for happiness but rejects it because he can't believe in the simplicity of the solution. He acquiesces in destroying the one person who has tried sincerely to help him. A very strange and ironic film that tries to bring human beings to their senses but suggests that they are beyond help and must destroy any potential saviors. Worth having in your collection for its meaning and overall impact, especially its haunting score.

I watched this film as part of a Word Lit. class with an emphasis on films (since my prof. is a foreign film fanatic). I positively adored the film, especially because it leaves not only the outcome, but the entire action, open to interpretation. You can even see Rantes as a sort of Christ, with the doctor and girl taking on the obvious roles. My favorite scene was the "Ode to Joy" scene; it really did fill me with joy and I was smiling and ecstatic by the end of it. "K-PAX" is an obvious ripoff, and a sorry one at that. See this film! You won't regret it.

There is a strong resemblance between K-Pax and Man facing Southeast. It's not that k-Pax is a cover, but I'm sure it was influenced by this incredible piece of filmaking. It may be hard to find a copy, but it will be worth the effort.

This film is brilliant, pure and simple. Of course, now that we have KPAX, or whatever it is called, they will probably hail KPAX as a brilliant masterpiece, but this is the blueprint, THIS is the Masterpiece! This film really makes you think "what if??" If you love quality films that make you think, then watch this.

For those of you who were dissapointed with Speilberg's A.I. This could be a true classic for "realistic science fiction" if this term existed. The film explores the true human feelings that exist in what appears to be an out of this world body. A combination between "Welcome to the Dollhouse and ET". One of Eliseo Subielas first films, it combines magic realism with the always fascinating world from outer space. And even though this film deals with technology it could never be outdated, because it's main focus is with the human heart.

This was a profoundly moving film. It conjured images of D.L. Rosenhan's(1973) research, "On Being Sane In Insane Places." The film forces the viewer to question the labels we attach to people, and how powerful they can be to limit them as human beings, to ostracize them from mainstream life, and to irreparably stigmatize them. After viewing this film, you will be struck by the audacity of any system (in this case the mental health system) that forces personality changes on those it views with suspicion and contempt. Although this film is in Spanish, it is subtitled and easy to follow. I would recommend this film for viewing at the high school and collegiate levels.

Aside from one unnecessary sex scene and a doom-and-gloom ending, this movie was about as near to perfect as any I've ever seen. It captures the horror and hopelessness and spiritual death of so many in our modern world, and it offers an unusually huge and beautiful and inspiring glimpse into the potential for something new and great.

Rantes, the main character, is a modern and believable Jesus figure - a born leader with passion and wisdom and a rare soul. Although this movie presents him as an alien who has superhuman power and lacks feelings, he really represents the human ideal - and the inner teacher and inner capacity for perfection we all have.

His intelligent and all-but-hopeless psychiatrist represents the broken norm - desperately struggling to find truth but unable to accept or acknowledge it when it comes knocking on the door.

The therapy in the movie represents the emotional reality of the modern mental health system - spiritually corrupt, anti-healing, drugged to the hilt, and boundariless when it suits the therapist (who has sex with his patient's best friend - though the movie fails to acknowledge the betrayal in this and instead presents it in a somewhat positive light!).

The caring patient, on the flip side, becomes the template for a good therapist, and his scenes of healing - especially the scene in which he leads the outdoor orchestra - are no less than magnificent.

I recommend this movie, in spite of its few flaws, with all my heart. It offers more scenes that got me to cry harder and deeper than any movie I've seen in a long time. Give yourself the gift and watch it. If only we could all become like Rantes. Perhaps we can. And perhaps this movie's negative ending need not be reality...

This is a fabulous picture. It is science fiction without space ships or ray guns. And who needs any monsters besides humans? The movie is poetic and thoughtful. This is a must-see film.