Are you sane?
If you’re lucky, you may be able to grapple with this in the privacy of your own home. And then decide that you either are or are not. And that may or may not be as far as it goes. But what happens when the question of your sanity leaks out into the world around you? What if others start to question it? What if it becomes entangled in the legal system? Or in the medical industrial complex? In other words, such that you may or may not have control over all of the pieces?
And then this: What’s the difference between being sane, insane and unsane?
A young woman is committed to a mental institution. Voluntarily? Involuntarily? Inadvertently? By accident? And how exactly does that – can that – work? What sort of situations can arise where others are actually able to commit you to “treatments” that you have little or no control regarding? And for how long – 24 hours? a week? a month? for the rest of your life? The fact is that most of us don’t really have a clue as how all of this might unfold. So, while watching the film, we’re thinking, “what could happen to me?”
But then almost immediately we start to question what we are seeing up on the screen. Is all of this actually unfolding, or is it all just part of her mental illness?
And then the part where it becomes a “thriller”. The part where [for some of us] it clearly jumps the shark.
As for the ending: screenrant.com/unsane-movie-ending-explained/
From the director of Bubble above. One of my all time favorite “small films” by “big” directors.
IMDb
The film was shot entirely with an iPhone 7 Plus camera. In just 10 days. Steven Soderbergh’s first horror/thriller movie.
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsane_(film
trailer: youtu.be/u7KZrt_cHH0
Unsane [2018]
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
[b]David [voiceover]: I love it when you wear blue. I mean, I love you in anything. But you wore blue that first time I saw you, so anytime I see you in blue, it reminds me of how I felt at that moment. How I never really knew what being alive was until I saw you. You unlocked something inside me that day, something I didn’t even realize was there. And right then, I knew that nothing in my life was ever going to be the same. In that moment, I was transformed permanently. You did that.
…
Sawyer: I’m named after my grandfather on my mother’s side. He died of eye cancer.
Mark: Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t…
Sawyer: Your little face.
Mark: That was you being funny?
Sawyer: Hey, if we can’t laugh at cancer, who are we?
Mark: Oh. That’s dark.
Sawyer: Hail Satan. Promise me one thing, Jesse.
Mark: It’s Mark.
Sawyer: Yeah. Tonight’s going to go how you want it to go. It’s not even a question. But afterwards, you don’t call me, you don’t contact me. It’s like we never met. You good with that?[/b]
Then things get weird.
[b]Sawyer [describing the experience of being stalked]: Your life slips away from you, you know? Changing your phone number and your e-mail becomes normal. Changing your lunch hour every day becomes normal. Second-guessing every single thing you say in case it might be misinterpreted? Normal. Taking out a restraining order. Normal. Relocating to another city. Normal.
Counselor: But you still see your stalker everywhere?
Sawyer: Well, rationally, I know that this is my neuroses colluding with my imagination to manifest my worst fears. I know that. But I’m not rational. I’m alone in a strange city, and, uh, I never feel safe. Not for one minute. So what do I do? Where do I go? Or maybe I just surrender and accept that this is my life.
Counselor: That doesn’t sound like much of a life.
Sawyer: No. Not one that I want to keep on living.
…
Sawyer [to the counselor]: Do you know the therapeutic index? It’s, um…It’s the ratio that measures the blood concentration of if a drug is toxic or when it’s effective. The larger the therapeutic index, the safer the drug. The smaller, the more dangerous. That’s how I’d see myself spending my final hours. Testing drugs.[/b]
Then things get weird again.
[b]Nurse: I’m Nurse Boles. Can you strip down to your underwear for me? Please. Take off your clothes down to your underwear. And remove all your jewelry. Do you understand? If you need help removing your clothes…
Sawyer [totally perplexed]: Why?
Nurse: To check for identifying marks. Scars, birthmarks, moles. It’s to protect you, the other patients, and the hospital.
Sawyer: Look, I’m not sure what’s happening here…
…
Sawyer: There’s been some kind of mistake.
Nurse: Your name is Sawyer Valentini.
Sawyer: You know that already.
Nurse: By signing this, you’ve consented to voluntary commitment for 24 hours.
Sawyer: No. The counselor said the form was routine.
Nurse: You signed it.
…
Doctor: Well, it says here that you’ve been assessed as a danger to yourself and to others. So that means more observation.
Sawyer: Doctor, look at me. Look at me. Doctor, I have a wonderful support system around me. I have family, I have friends, coworkers. I have neighbors. The best thing for me is to be surrounded by the people I love. Now, did I indicate to the counselor that I sometimes, occasionally, feel down? Sure, I did. But everybody does.
…
Doctor: It says here that you assaulted a staff member.
Sawyer: He looked like someone I knew.
Doctor: Yes, but it says here that you attacked him.
Sawyer: I… No. I was under a lot of stress. The police were supposed to come.
Doctor: And it says here that you assaulted a male patient, Jacob.
Sawyer: No. He…Look, I had a rough night. But look at me now.
Doctor: Right. So, because of the multiple acts of violence, we’re looking at another seven days.
…
Nate: You’re no different from anybody else in here. You gave them an in.
Sawyer: What are you talking about?
Nate: They brought up suicide. You bit. That’s all they need. They’ve got beds. You’ve got insurance.
Sawyer: But I’m fine. I just needed to talk to somebody.
Nate: Yeah, that’s why Highland Creek and all the other Highland Creeks and Tumbling Pines and Cedar Valleys under the ADS Health Enterprises umbrella exist. You talk, they find a way to keep you and get you admitted. And you stay locked up until Aetna, Blue Cross, Medicaid or whoever insures you will pay. Soon as the money runs out, you’re cured.
Sawyer: But that’s…that’s…
Nate: Business. Business. Highland Creek is just like any other business in America. They got a number to hit every month. They need to admit as many patients to fill those beds to get that money. You know, the law of averages suggests that a percentage of the patients admitted to Highland Creek are in actual need of psychiatric care. It also suggests that a higher percentage…
Sawyer: Are just like me. They’re locking up sane people for profit.
Nate: Yeah.
Sawyer: I’m here for seven days because my insurance company approved it.
Nate: Boom. It’s not that bad. I mean, it’s inhuman, but compared to where you could have landed?[/b]
So, is that how it really works? Or is this all really unfolding only in her head?
Nate: Final words: Do your time. Keep your head down.
Sawyer: God, you’re talking to me like we’re in prison.
Nate: You’re welcome. Don’t cause any scenes. Don’t make any enemies. Find a community, learn how to live with the routine. It’ll be over before you know it.
Cue David Strine/George Shaw — the stalker.
[b]Sawyer: This man is called David Strine. And he’s been following me and calling me and texting me and showing up at my job and breaking into my fucking house.
Nurse: Take your meds and move on.
Sawyer: No. I’m not going anywhere until the cops haul his ass into jail.
Nurse: George, did you do or say anything to provoke the patient?
Sawyer: Stop calling him that. His name is David. He’s followed me all the way here from Boston.
George: I’ve never even been to Boston, though I am a Sox fan.
…
Doctor: Sawyer, based on what it says here, you are one incident away from being sent to the basement.
Sawyer: Look, I was sexually assaulted. Where’s the outrage? Where’s my advocate? Who do I report this to? And what’s in the basement?
…
Sawyer: Your cell phone. I saw you. I know you have one. That’s a major infraction of the rules. But guess what? I don’t care, as long as I get to use it. Otherwise, I tell everyone.
Nate: Yeah. Your credibility is sky high around here.
Sawyer: You really want to take that chance?
Nate: You call the cops again, they’ll do nothing…again.
Sawyer: I’m not calling the cops. I promise. And I’ll suck your dick.
…
Angela [Sawyer’s mom]: I want to see my daughter! Get her out here now! I’m not leaving, and I’m only going to get louder, so you probably should do something! She didn’t know what she was signing. I want her released immediately. She’s coming home with me.
Administrator: Mrs. Valentini, I understand your concern, but right now this is the best place for Sawyer.
Angela: Stuck in a hospital with her stalker is the best place for her?
Administrator: Highland Creek is a very ethical organization, Mrs. Valentini. The decision regarding Sawyer’s admission was made by an attending psychiatrist in consultation with members of our clinical treatment team.
Angela: Are you going to release her?
Administrator: Sawyer is absolutely free to leave…once we’re convinced that she no longer poses a clear threat to herself and others.
Angela: She doesn’t. You only made her think she does so you could describe her as suicidal on your insurance claim.
…
Lawyer [on phone with Angela]: Pennsylvania state law mandates that a patient can only be held on involuntary commitment for seven days without a court order. And, look, they’re not going to go to the hassle of getting a court order after her insurance stops paying. Is it inconvenient? Sure. Should something be done to stop it happening? Absolutely. As your lawyer, is it my priority getting Sawyer back into your care? It’s number one. Keep me in the loop about the situation. If you think there’s legal cause to intercede, I’ll get right on it.
…
Ferguson [to Sawyer about David Strine]: Okay, let’s talk about Sawyer Valentini in Boston, year zero. Um, obviously I would recommend sensors on all your doors and windows. I would swap the terrace doors out for a steel-core door. Um, update your dead bolts. Uh, I want to talk to you about situational awareness, okay? Where’s the nearest police station? Where’s the nearest fire station? These are things that should always be right on the tip of your tongue. Yeah, parking… Um, I know you have parking in the rear of the building with the back entrance. I’m gonna ask you not to use that anymore. I know it’s convenient, but I would advocate selling your car and using a ride service. If you can’t or won’t do that, uh, I would say park on the street, preferably under a light source. And come back and walk through this courtyard here where people can see you. With your keys in your hand, by the way. You want your keys always in your hand. You don’t want to be digging around in your purse in the dark for your keys. Um, and I’ll talk to you about and help you with a go-bag. You know, just cash, credit cards, uh, change of clothes, flashlight, charger, that kind of thing. A firearm, if you’re open to that idea of purchasing or registering a firearm and learning how to use it. Think about altering your routine. Uh, when you go to work, when you leave work, um, that kind of thing. How about social media? Are you on any social media accounts?
Sawyer: Uh, I’m on Facebook, but my account’s private, so…
Ferguson: Right. Okay, that’s no good, because he’d be able to, you know, figure out a friend of yours from marching band or a sorority sister and go get photos from them, create a bogus account and then try to friend you that way. Your friends know your e-mail. That’s enough. Just delete the Facebook today. Um, and then talk to your friends, you know. Be open about this. Inform them what’s going on. Tell them not to mention you. Don’t tag you on Instagram. You know, uh, um…You know, baby showers or, you know, Chardonnay date with the girls. You know, whatever it is, if there’s someone taking a picture, you do whatever you can to get out of it, all right? And think of your cell phone as your enemy. And this: your new best friend.
[he gives here a book titled THE GIFT OF FEAR][/b]
But…
[b]Sawyer [to Nate]: And now he’s here. Or maybe it’s all in my head.
…
David [with Sawyer in a padded cell]: I-I… I’m not gonna hurt you. I’m not gonna touch you. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. I just want to be here with you.
[she looks up at the camera]
David: Oh, I disconnected them.
Sawyer: You going to kill me?
…
David: I have this cabin in the woods in New Hampshire, in the White Mountains. It-It’s totally off the grid. It’s got its own solar, its own well. It’s… It’s so beautiful. Sawyer, we could be happy. We will… We will… We will… We will be happy.
Sawyer: We will never be happy! You could never make me happy! Look at where we are, David!! Look at what you’ve done!!
…
Sawyer: You’re a fucking simpleton. Do you know that? You are a fucking dunce. That sweet, kind girl in your head? That’s not me. Can I ask you a question, David? Who did this to you? Who rejected you? Did she let you down easy? Huh? “I’m flattered, David, but I don’t want to ruin our friendship.” She ghost you? Hmm? Hmm? She block your number? She unfriend you on Facebook? Vanish from your life? Or was it worse? Did she look like she was going to be sick? Hmm? Did she laugh in your face? Did she tell all her friends?
David: That’s not you.
Sawyer: No? 'Cause I’m telling you, David. That’s me. That’s what I would’ve done. That’s what I did. That’s who you love. That’s who you fucking dream of. That’s who you’ve been stalking for the past two years!
…
Sawyer: Have you ever…Have you ever been with anyone else? Beyond your feelings for me, have you ever had sex with anyone? I’m not judging. I’m not. It’s just…Fantasy and reality are two different things. I might not be what you want.
David: You’re all I’ve ever wanted.
Sawyer: You’ve got nothing to compare me to.
David: That makes no sense.
Sawyer: I need you to see what you’ve been missing, I need you to see what you’ve been missing, and then decide if you still want me. David, I might be your last, but I can’t be your first.
David: Uh, n-no. No. No, sorry. No.
Sawyer: Well, you would if you loved me. You say all the right things, David. Or what you think are the right things. Greeting card cliches and romance novel declarations of love. But that’s not love.
…
Woman [on TV]: We sent Nate to follow up on rumors that the hospital was committing patients against their will. I never thought this would be the last story he ever wrote for us. It’s a really tragic incident, and I hope it draws attention to a very important issue.
Reporter: ADS Health Enterprises, Highland Creek’s parent company, has issued a blanket denial of the allegations made in Mr. Hoffman’s story.
…
David [to Sawyer pretending to be unconscious]: You’ll learn to love me. A year from now… maybe… maybe two… I was thinking that maybe we could start a family of our own. What do you think about that? A little girl with your eyes and your smile. Oh, that’d be perfect. You’d make such an amazing mother.[/b]