My Habeas Corpus

  How Many More Times? Danny Munoz How many more times must I be subjected to the embarrassment that comes with the loss of one's rationality. I spend years putting my life back together only to have everything fall apart within days as they put me in chains and force me into a hospital yet again. I'd be upset if I had any tears left to shed. I've already lost my wife, I only see my children every two weeks and I'm not sure if the decent job I landed last year is still mine as they've gotten wind of my mental illness. If history repeats itself, everybody runs for the hills when they find out I have a problem with my mind, regardless of how "amazing" or "bright" they claimed I was. If indeed history repeats itself I will be left broke and alone once more. To hell with it, if this is yet another test for me, to see if this time it will kill me then I shall pass. For I'm not yet giving up, I'm not yet ready to stop living. To be fair this ti

  I recently saw Are You Here, a movie with Owen Wilson, Zack Galifianikis and Amy Poehler, written and directed by Matthew Weiner. The movie is currently my favorite depiction of mental illness in film. While some parts of the plot are implausible, Ben, Zack Galifianikis's character, as young man diagnosed with manic-depression is powerful. The writer captures much of the complexity of the disease, deftly conveying moments of psychosis and depression. What is most beautiful in the movie is his friendship with Owen Wilson's character, Steve. Both characters are depicted as seriously flawed individuals who accept each other's shortcomings as an intrinsic part of each's identity. However, this doesn't mean they don't want to see change in one another. It shows the beauty and depth of accountability in relationships. Each calls out the other for reckless choices in a way that cuts through the noise. This communication invites them to respond to each other's cha