Backbencher

The film based on the life of renowned author Janet Frame, Angel at My Table, is a marathon. Because it is autobiographical, there seemed to be little overarching plot and thus is episodic. It is a compelling tale, however, and it is sometimes unbelievable what transpires.

Part 1 begins with a pudgy little girl with a red (for lack of better description) 'fro. She introduces herself as Janet, but she is referred to as Jean often. Janet is one of four girls, and also has an epileptic brother. The family is poor and the father is not always the most understanding. This is especially evident when Janet meets Poppy. Later, the sisters gain a new friend and lose the eldest sister to drowning.

Part 2 is the college years. Janet would prefer to be a poet, but these were the days when there were only so many ways a woman could make a living. Thus, she is studying teaching. That plan fails during her practical exam. Soon after, Janet enters a mental institution and is diagnosed with schizophrenia. The only treatment of the day is electroshock therapy and so she endures over 200 treatments during the next eight years. During that time, she manages to get a book published so that's one bright spot. When she leaves hospital, she moves in with a fellow writer who helps her move ahead and get her funding to go abroad.

Part 3 (of 3) is Janet's trip overseas. She begins in London where she meets her odd Irish neighbor who is more than a little creepy. It is only when she moves to Spain that her life begins to change, mainly for the better...

When I heard that the main character was schizophrenic, I was expecting (and hoping for) a movie along the lines of A Beautiful Mind. The result was entirely different. I personally did not like this movie, but the film captured a good deal of critical acclaim.

- Krista Hellman