Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Rocks in My Pockets review
Rocks in My Pockets is the darkly and quirkily animated
story of the suicide, depression, and schizophrenia across several generations
of the filmmaker’s family. Signe Baumane, a Latvian immigrant to New York,
acknowledges her own struggle with depression and fantasizing about suicide.
This film begins with the story of how her grandparents became a couple. Anna,
a twenty-something college graduate in 1920’s Latvia, took an interest in her
married, 50-something boss. After attracting his attention, he leaves his wife
and marries her. Together, they have eight children; however, Anna finds
herself feeling trapped and depressed. She tries to kill herself twice, but is
stopped. She ultimately dies in her sleep at age 50. Although she had been
physically healthy, her family attributes her death to natural causes or
exhaustion; they ignore the evidence that she overdosed on medications. This
does not satisfy Signe, who wants to understand why her mind works the way it
does; she wants to know “the origins of the intensity of feelings” that she
has. Signe goes on to share how she deals with her own struggles; by being
available to other people, connecting with them and helping them, she finds the
strength to stay “alive and sane” from day to day.
The Adoption
Connection
Signe wants to understand an element of herself. She
believes that knowing the truth about her grandmother will help her understand
herself, but she is frustrated when people seem to try to hide the truth.
Ultimately, she does learn enough about her family history to be helped.
Although Rocks in My Pockets isn’t an adoption story, it does capture the
importance of honest information about one’s genetic family.
Strong Points
Baumane has said that animation can provide a window into
thought and emotion that live action can’t provide. She’s right; the film is
successful in conveying to the viewer the characters’ dark, confused feelings
that made suicide seem like an escape. By
the end of the film, Signe has shared that she is able to stay alive and sane
each day by connecting with the people around her. Talking about difficult
topics – including mental illness and suicide – can help make the feelings manageable,
and this film brings those topics into view and also offers insight about what
they feel like, a story of how they can be present in multiple generations of a
family, and hope that people can survive the destructive impulses they feel.
Challenges
Baumane has also said that animation isn’t only for
children, and she’s right. Rocks in My Pockets isn’t for kids. Characters plot
their suicides aloud, a rabbit’s throat is slit, and a character leaves his
wife for his young secretary, once she attracts his attention by wearing a
low-cut dress to work. The film might be too heavy or dark for some viewers.
Recommendations
Rocks in My Pockets could be helpful for professionals or
other adults who want to develop empathy for the inner world and inner experience
of people who struggle with depression, schizophrenia and suicidality. It opened earlier this month in New York and
Los Angeles. Screening locations and dates are listed at http://www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com/Screenings.html
Questions for
Discussion
What information might adoptees want to know about their
birth families? Why is it important for them to have that information?
How comfortable are you talking with others about
depression? About suicide? How can we create a culture where it is OK and not
shameful to talk about these feelings?
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