Ilovehandbagsandshoes
This review assumes you have read other reviews...Whether or not Multiple Personality Disorder exists, the fact is that this film is about the emergence of the real deal: the truth about the lives of a very disturbed mother who subjected a small child to agonising abuse. The fact that this woman had such devastating 'functional' mental illness is the most horrible fact. Behind closed doors, well within the confines of 'domestic life', this film kicks the living daylights out of the idea of 'home sweet home'.Perhaps the various personalities were not as distinct as the film depicts, but all the same, assuming the voice of a younger self, to enable you to admit to facts, is a very obvious way of dealing with things like this.I don't care if the publisher made them 'invent multiple personalities', I don't care that it was a trend in 1970s therapy, I don't even care that the shrink and the patient became lifelong friends, or if money or fame make people tell the truth - as long as the truth comes out!Personally I'm sick of the view that 'mothers are perfect' that is handed down to us by all of history and culture. Guess what people: mothers can actually be bad, really bad! So I'm just glad some films stick their neck out and tell it like it is.
jeffsmithey
This movie is ridiculously good! I watched it in high school for Psychology class. It is so well filmed even by today's standards. Definitely worth a buy and watch, because all I can say is "wow!" Get this movie if you like watching anything that deals with really weird scenarios and personality disorders.All I can say is that Sybil should be seen as a classic movie and so well filmed for the time that it came out. It will surprise you to see the quality of this film.Anyone that is interested in psychology at all will be stunned by this movie. I would definitely invest in this movie for my collection!
indy_go_blue44
I read the book Sybil and saw the movie for the first time in 1976 as a student nurse. I've read the book probably three times and am watching the newly released DVD as I write. I don't find it hard to believe I am still so powerfully affected I am by this movie. Between this movie and Norma Rae, Ms Field was at the height of her career. Her performance is beyond believable. Joanne Woodward's character, Dr. Wilbur, I think is almost too perfect but still extremely affecting and sympathetic as Dr. Wilbur. Although the character of Richard Loomis is added for dramatic effect, the late (and wonderful) Brad Davis' performance as the caring neighbor and love interest is also quite moving. Sadly his death in 1991 took from us a very good actor. Sybil is drawing the green chicken now, her mother looking on and now going psychotic. It wasn't possible for me to see her insanity when I saw this the first time, but I can feel a little more sympathetic to her now (up from zero to one, maybe). As a drama this is also a superb show. We know from the opening scenes that something is terribly wrong, and the story slowly unfolds as more and more of Sybil's history is told until the final healing scene, which I do feel is a bit melodramatic but does nicely wrap up in 4 hours what actually took many more years to accomplish. I have cried and I have laughed over this wonderful movie, and am grateful that it has finally been made available on DVD. 10/10
Fhantome
I have D.I.D. Out of the many portrayals and interviews that people in the media are exposed to, Sybil is about as close to the real thing that I've seen. Although I do tire seeing people with DID/MPD being portrayed as helpless and totally out of it. I have several friends that have DID and none of them are as portrayed in the media. I am a Paramedic and police dispatcher and have been for ten years... before that, I worked as a therapist as a social worker. I've always held a job and on those rare instances when the entire personality system does fall apart (all puns intended), there is almost always someone inside the personality system to take the reins. That's what is inherent about DID... the ability to persevere and "act normally" through the rough stuff. Sybil paved the way for future generations the way that Joanne Woodward paved the way for her generation into a better understanding of the way that DID works. I'm happy that they released the DVD (although I have yet to purchase it) now on the 30th anniversary. It is a testament to the perseverance of the human condition in times of severe abuse. I only wish that I could have met Shirley Ardell Mason and congratulated her and thanked her for her courageousness.
AD
