Depression - An American Splendor
Many films in the film industry have been dubbed for their action, romance and mystery, but, what about those ‘not-so-common’ films that depict reality.
American Splendor is just one of the few films that depict reality by describing the effect of psychological disorders.
Based on the true life of the comic artist Harvey Pekar, American Splendor is no romance, feel-good film. Instead, it is a film based around a man’s struggle for happiness.
Produced by Robert Pulcini in 2003, American Splendor has been viewed by many for its portrayal of depression in American Society.
It is rare to come across a film that describes the effect of psychological disorders in a comical, satirical way. American Splendor offers its audience a taste of what it is like to deal with depression on top of cancer, obsessive compulsive disorder and a vasectomy in a very endearing way.
“I’ve had enough bad experiences and growth to last me plenty…Right now, I’d be glad to trade some growth for happiness,” states Pekar in the film, played by Paul Giamatti.
This is not the first film Giamatti has made as an actor of depression. He played in the film Sideways which depicts a depressive divorce also in search of happiness.
It seems as society moves on into the 21st century, more films are being produced about real life, every day situations.
Films like American Splendor and Sideways are focusing on everyday trauma. The trauma for these two films of course deal with depression and the effect it has on friends and family.
These films give a picture of what it is like to deal with a disorder, which is something most audiences are not familiar with. Most audiences intend to see a movie that makes them feel better. So why are films like American Splendor and Sideways catching a lot of attention?
According to Dr. Bob Murray, a psychologist, merely 18.8 million people a year are affected by depression. That is about 10 percent of the population over 18 years of age in the U.S.
American Splendor, which won an American Film Institute Award in 2003, described the life of Harvey Pekar and his struggle through depression and cancer.
Pekar works 30 years as a hospital file clerk. His second wife leaves him, his voice is dying, he is diagnosed with cancer and he suffers from depression.
Divorced Pekar wants to find more in life and becomes interested in comics. He then decides to write his comics based solely on his everyday life experiences.
Pekar manages to get more success than he ever thought, yet it still did not change his odd ways or his unhappiness.
The comic book American Splendor, witch was the basis of the film, was written about Pekar’s true life experiences. Pekar even created a comic book based on his fight
with cancer entitled, “Our Cancer Year,” which detailed his every step through the struggle of cancer.
“The comics are true, deep and funny precisely because they see that we are all superheroes doing daily battle against twisted and perverted villains,” stated Roger Ebert in his review of the film.
American Splendor is not a just a film, but a biography based on the life of a man and his struggle with normal, everyday issues.
“Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff,” states Pekar.
Filed under: American Splendor Reviews