DIALOGUES WITH MADWOMEN

Why does society fear the deranged? Is it because they are so different from us-or so similar? This compassionate and disturbing documentary adds gender to the question by focusing on “mad” women, seven individuals now in recovery after being either institutionalized or treated for psychological disorders. All speak of their traumas with heartbreaking, sometimes humorous, clarity; Dedee is a survivor of Catholic school administrators and her own therapists, both medieval in their mentalities. Mari's abusive peodphile father left her with 25 desperate personalities, all of whom tired to give each other Chirstmas presents one year. Hannah's manic episode turned her into a notoriously obsessed fan of Bob Dylan. Director Allie Light's interest in the topic is not just professional. She herself is one of the subjects, and describes her battle with chronic depression. Light's obvious rapport and deep respect for the interviewees places this glimpse of sanity's outer edge light-years ahead of any daytime- talk TV freak show.-Charles Cassady