Each Christ has a fully-formed background for psychosis. Leon has an issue with women, which stems from a fraught relationship with his mother and a rape incident in the army. Clyde has to take several showers a day because of a scent that only he smells for a devastating reason. Joseph wasn’t allowed in the army due to his stature and was tormented his whole life due to being born a little person. He also believes he is British when he’s Canadian, which allowed Dinklage to use his Tyrion Lannister voice again.
The thing that’s the most fascinating about Three Christs is that it is based on a real psychiatric case study. The character of Dr. Stone is based on Dr. Milton Rokeach, who wrote and conducted the case study in question. It takes a knowing glance at the field of psychiatry in the ’50s and shows us how the changes to the system came about. It also shows us that we still have a lot to learn about schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. Additionally, and more importantly, it says without saying directly that psychiatry isn’t particularly an exact science.
“…shows us that we still have a lot to learn about schizophrenia and other mental illnesses…”
Gracefully directed by Fried Green Tomatoes and Justified director Jon Avnet, Three Christs is a great dark comedy about a dark subject. I can’t say enough how great the performances are. It’s a relevant character study on those who suffer from mental illness and the ones who treat it and why they do. Dr. Stone and his research assistant, Becky, aren’t exactly the sanest people on Earth themselves. As they say, it takes one to know one, and this seems to be what the film is saying in some parts. It’s another great film to add to the echelon of mental hospital movies such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Girl Interrupted, A Dangerous Method, and more. It has some of the most solid performances from some of the best character actors in the world. So please do yourself a favor and check it out. Do it for Jesus, whether it be one of them, or all three. Either way, it’ll be worth your while.
"…Dr. Stone then has the revolutionary idea of putting the 'Three Christs' in a room together..."
Any idea why the doctor’s character was given the name of a famous and well-respected psychiatrist (Alan Stone) who was NOT the person this story is based on (Milton Rokeach, also a co-writer)? A weird inside joke?