This little film had long been on my "keeper" list. Do people realize how stressed out, menopausal, emotionally abused women (as well as the mentally retarded) were REALLY treated by the medical profession at the turn of the century??!! All of the pious uptight Christian attitudes of that time were deadly to exploring TRUE emotional feelings that would allow us to embrace suffering souls, let alone explore what it means to embrace our humanity. Can you really imagine (by today's standards) that Walt Whitman's books were banned because he acknowledged women as having feelings and emotional responses as great as a mans? Think about that! The sensitivity of this movie still gets me and I give credit to the director for capturing this through his eyes.
11 Reviews
A worthwhile movie about Walt Whitman. A kind of 19th Century "Awakenings"
ericursus31 October 2006
I found the one and only comment about this movie entirely uninformative and altogether too harsh, so I have decided to write my own. I first saw this movie when it came out and have caught it a few times more since then. First of all let me say that, overall, the things that this movie gets RIGHT are what make it worthwhile. It doesn't matter that it has some low budget quirks and other faults. It is worth watching. The idea of basing a movie on Walt Whitman's visit a restrictive, narrow-minded Anglo-Canadian community in Southern Ontario and bringing people to life is a brilliant mis-en-scene. The movie is about the kind of humanizing catalysis Whitman inspired in people. And in that sense it is exactly accurate. The acting - especially by Rip Torn (Whitman) and Colm Feore as the doctor - is very good. The scripting and dialogue are strong and pay proper attention to the mores and inflections of the time. Overall, what's not to like? Besides, name another film in which Whitman is brought so vividly to life?
The great Walt Whitman: a man ahead of his time
si4abetterworld6 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Based on a true story of how a man ahead of his time - the great 19th century American poet and humanist Walt Whitman - made a significant contribution to how western medicine treats people with psychological problems.
Interested in the treatment of people with psychological problems, he began to associate with psychiatric workers and patients. After seeing the psychological methods of the time (inhumane and ignorantly cruel methods), Walt rejected those methods, and treated patients with compassion and dignity, encouraging other people to do the same> The story of Walt's interactions with psychiatric workers, patients and townsfolk is full of drama, good humor and wisdom. : )
Interested in the treatment of people with psychological problems, he began to associate with psychiatric workers and patients. After seeing the psychological methods of the time (inhumane and ignorantly cruel methods), Walt rejected those methods, and treated patients with compassion and dignity, encouraging other people to do the same> The story of Walt's interactions with psychiatric workers, patients and townsfolk is full of drama, good humor and wisdom. : )
Song of Whitman
mermatt31 July 1998
Rip Torn does an excellent job bringing Walt Whitman to life in this fact-based story of his meeting with Dr. Bucke who ran a mental institution in London, Canada. Whitman the poet breaks the Victorian boundaries and causes Dr. Bucke to deal with the patients in an unconventional way.
The real-life Dr. Bucke was profoundly influenced by his encounter with Whitman. Dr. Bucke later wrote a book called COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS in which he discussed the great mystics throughout history -- and he thought Whitman was one of the greatest. This film shows us why he was so impressed with the poet.
The real-life Dr. Bucke was profoundly influenced by his encounter with Whitman. Dr. Bucke later wrote a book called COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS in which he discussed the great mystics throughout history -- and he thought Whitman was one of the greatest. This film shows us why he was so impressed with the poet.
Poignant and memorable
brownburro13 June 2011
This is a movie which I think has been overlooked, by and large. Relatively few people saw it when it came out in the theatres due to the fact that it wasn't well publicized. I read a page-long interview with the director in an alternative, local paper and I distinctly remember the director saying that he felt Whitman's spirit helping him to direct this film, and that it had been a spiritual experience for him (the director). This motivated me to see the film and I saw it more than once before I purchased my own copy so I could see it again and again. I can tell that Whitman did indeed inspire the director because this film has so many poignant scenes like the ones with Whitman's mentally disabled brother, to whom Whitman says, 'you make me rich!' The beauty of this film comes, not from analyzing the accurateness of separate details (which other reviewers inform us are less than accurate), but in allowing the movie as a whole to touch your soul.
Rare look at one man's power to change mental health
solaraine20 August 2006
The rating is only a 5 because it's a movie that could have used better acting and direction (or at least music!). However, for the achievements of Walt Whitman, it deserves a 10. A previous poster calls the movie cheesy, however, I think it's a simple case of not seeing the forest for the trees. The film makers were apparently more interested in getting the story out there than to have a Hollywood shiny feature film. And for this, I applaud them - the fact it is non-mainstream reflects the life of Whitman as well. This film is more documentary than for the sake of acting. To be fascinated with a story such as this, when you rarely hear of these types of stories that shape current day mental health, is the most important thing. I found it a highly enjoyable look at history.
Important Story Hindered by Poor Acting and Low Budget
RRiley994524 March 2019
The positive stuff first: movie presented new information about poet Walt Whitman and his friendship with a Canadian doctor. His influence was tremendous and led to innovations of the treatment of the mentally ill. Rip Torn is really quite good as Whitman.
The negative:some of the acting is so over the top, especially those actors portraying the inmates at an asylum. The actress playing the daughter was a bit much too.
This is not a big budget Hollywood production and that shows. For example, there are two dinner scenes and both times all the people are eating is asparagus.
The negative:some of the acting is so over the top, especially those actors portraying the inmates at an asylum. The actress playing the daughter was a bit much too.
This is not a big budget Hollywood production and that shows. For example, there are two dinner scenes and both times all the people are eating is asparagus.
Free thinkers are atheists?
mark.waltz25 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
When asked if he is an atheist, Walt Whitman (Rip Torn) simply responds that he is an unbeliever as far as the modern church is concerned, that he considers the Bible one of the greatest books ever written, and basically that God would have more to do with his time then place unreasonable demands on flawed human beings that they could never hope to fulfill. There are magic in those words, a simple love of his fellow man, and an acceptance over things that he cannot control. Whitman is disgusted by what he sees when he comes to London and goes to a mental institution where he witnesses the inhumane treatment of the mentally disturbed. Gentle psychiatrist Colm Feore listens to his every word and watches how he interacts with the patient's, freeing one man whose hands are shackled, and encouraging the staff to Temptations involved in activities that would help them, rather than hinder him and keep them constantly idle. Certainly, the treatment of the mentally ill here is very disturbing, especially when you see troubled scullery maid Sheila McCarthy constantly slapped with a wet towel over and over. Human sexuality seems to be at the forefront of what makes someone considered mentally ill at that time, and the mutilating a female bodies to prevent sexual arousal is one of the tactics that the man in charge of these psychiatric institutions utilize.
At first, Feore's wife (Wendel Meldrum), seems disturbed by all of this psychiatric mumbo-jumbo, and the audience gets the sense that she doesn't like how it's putting an influence on their daughter. But there's much more to that, and when she begins to have psychiatric issues of her own, it's obviously caused by the limited roles that women weren't allowed to have in a male-dominated society. Certainly the shackling of the mines in addition to the body causes great damage Feore learns, and as we see with the variety of patients, it's obvious that they need activity and be around other people in order to learn how to function better. But a judgmental society is against his tactics, and even in churches, he is lambasted for his efforts to improve the human condition.
The performance of Rip Torn will mesmerize you from the start, even as his character becomes sort of an American joke to British high society where he is considered to be uncouth and a charlatan. In a sense, he's exactly what God ordered, a man who like real Rogers, seem to never meet another man he didn't like. Torn is ably supported by a terrific featured cast, and the script which is a combination of Mark Twain like witticisms and a harsh slap at the view of how those with varying psychiatric problems should be treated in this period of time is brilliant.
This does not point a judgmental finger at those treatments, and just indicates how they have changed for the better. Feore is memorable as he reacts to the new things that he's learning, eventually having the strength to stand up and persue rights of dignified treatment, and Meldrum shows the awakening of her character who wasn't as stuffy as we initially believed. But McCarthy has probably the hardest job acting-wise, showing positions of the mentally ill woman and managing to do so without coming off in an over-exaggerated way. The various other actors playing mentally disabled patients are very convincing, almost to the point where it seems like they actually cast mentally disabled actors to portray these various ailments. This is an outstanding film in every way, not depressing but enlightening.
At first, Feore's wife (Wendel Meldrum), seems disturbed by all of this psychiatric mumbo-jumbo, and the audience gets the sense that she doesn't like how it's putting an influence on their daughter. But there's much more to that, and when she begins to have psychiatric issues of her own, it's obviously caused by the limited roles that women weren't allowed to have in a male-dominated society. Certainly the shackling of the mines in addition to the body causes great damage Feore learns, and as we see with the variety of patients, it's obvious that they need activity and be around other people in order to learn how to function better. But a judgmental society is against his tactics, and even in churches, he is lambasted for his efforts to improve the human condition.
The performance of Rip Torn will mesmerize you from the start, even as his character becomes sort of an American joke to British high society where he is considered to be uncouth and a charlatan. In a sense, he's exactly what God ordered, a man who like real Rogers, seem to never meet another man he didn't like. Torn is ably supported by a terrific featured cast, and the script which is a combination of Mark Twain like witticisms and a harsh slap at the view of how those with varying psychiatric problems should be treated in this period of time is brilliant.
This does not point a judgmental finger at those treatments, and just indicates how they have changed for the better. Feore is memorable as he reacts to the new things that he's learning, eventually having the strength to stand up and persue rights of dignified treatment, and Meldrum shows the awakening of her character who wasn't as stuffy as we initially believed. But McCarthy has probably the hardest job acting-wise, showing positions of the mentally ill woman and managing to do so without coming off in an over-exaggerated way. The various other actors playing mentally disabled patients are very convincing, almost to the point where it seems like they actually cast mentally disabled actors to portray these various ailments. This is an outstanding film in every way, not depressing but enlightening.
Historically Inaccurate
space_girl2723 January 2007
Please note that I haven't seen the film since I discovered it in 2007, and my town is smaller and doesn't carry it. However, I really want to say something about it. I'm actually doing research for university on the title character Richard Maurice Bucke and would like to point out that the person they based the main character on was in reality completely different!!! Hollywood's ideas of people and artistic license granted, the real Dr. Bucke totally endorsed hysterectomies to cure insanity in women, and would never have practiced anything as liberal as represented in the film. I think it's laughable to see various film critics who write for legitimate newspapers who say this film has some historical basis! The only actual fact I can see is the friendship between Dr. Bucke and Walt Whitman. Please don't waste your time on a film with such a disregard to the horror that real women experienced at the hands of this doctor who has now been glorified by the film industry.
Caseman is hypercritical
mdunn20226 August 2007
This movie treats the mentally ill as human beings, and presents a fictionalized but more-or-less historical encounter between the director of a mental institution in Canada and the very controversial Walt Whitman. If you dislike movies that ask you to think AND feel, you will not like this movie. But for anyone with any knowledge of how the mentally ill have been treated throughout history and who have actually known people who are mentally ill, this movie touches something that as human beings we all share. You do not have to be religious at all to recognize the fundamental truth of Matthew 36 - 40 (or at least 39 - 40). Have a look before you jump to any conclusion.
A cheesy story that could have been much, much better.
Caseman-23 August 1999
This was a complete disappointment. The acting isn't bad, but the production was just so bad that at times I felt I needed to stop it, but I sadly made it through and was able to finish it a bit embarrassed by the whole poor movie. It is o.k. if you are o.k. with cheesy moral plots and don't mind watching a movie that vastly misconstrues Whitman. If you want a cheesy fictional story go for it.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
