August 18, 2004

People Say I’m Crazy

By Michael Farkash

In "People Say I'm Crazy," a man's struggle with severe mental illness is chronicled in a poignant, courageous docu filmed over several years.

This excellent report, which has won a number of awards, details the difficulties of John Cadigan, who in school was well-liked, athletic and artistic. However, at 21, he began suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and beat a fearful retreat from the world. Hospitalization and treatment followed.

About 12 years ago, the artist asked his sister, documentarian Katie Cadigan, to assist him in examining his life. Later, he took up a camera himself. The siblings are credited as directors.

Painful to watch at times, the docu shows Cadigan talking candidly about dealing with ordinary tasks, his fear that people are toying with him, and the challenge of keeping his artistic career going. He has exhibited his work at the Capitol Hill building in Washington.

The solid, highly personal account was produced by Academy Award-winning documentarian Ira Wohl ("Best Boy") and Katie Cadigan. Editor Laura C. Murray, who also serves as one of the three cinematographers, deserves kudos for her excellent work.