The Scottish psychiatrist R.D Laing is a controversial figure. A rockstar of the profession, he treated the stars. His most famous work, however, was carried out at Kingsley Hall. It was a community centre where patients and psychiatrists lived together during treatment. A five year experiment, patients were not treated with anti-psychotics, instead Laing talked to them and engaged in meditation with the help of LSD.
Mad To Be Normal examines Dr Laing and his work at Kingsley hall. David Tennant puts in a captivating performance as the enigmatic doctor, exuding confidence and charisma. Robert Mullan directs, and writes alongside Tracy Moreton. The screenplay the two produce is very engaging to watch, although the film ends a bit too abruptly. But maybe that’s better than the litany of formulaic mushy endings we see all too often.
The film is as much an examination of sanity as it is of Laing himself, we see staff as troubled as patients. Gabriel Byrne plays Jim, a man who returns to Kingsley Hall after his mental health deteriorates again. At the outset he is, by all appearances, in good health, but as he descends into a state of depression and psychosis we see the lines between sane and mad blurred. The unpredictability of a psychotic mind, or why suffering from clinical depression makes you empathise with the struggle to treat these conditions.
Laing was at odds with the medical establishment, and his methods of connecting with his patients were regarded with suspicion and derision by many who relied on drugs and electro-shock therapy. The dusty and sinister establishment rails against Laing, their halls and suits a sea of grey, contrasted by the Scotsman’s bright corduroy jackets and paisley shirts.
Laing’s wife, played by Elizabeth Moss, is our gateway into this unfamiliar world. Her brilliant and often tortured performance shows us how damaged all those involved are. How can the doctor help others when he is weighed down by his own familial troubles? The answer to that question is left open.
Mad To Be Normal is a captivating and engaging look at a controversial figure. At an hour and 45 minutes long it doesn’t overstay its welcome and is well paced. If you are looking for something a bit different, or are a fan of the man’s work, Mad To Be Normal is worth a look.
