Steven
Alan and Susan Raymond are masters of the lingering camera. In their affecting documentary, ”Into Madness,” Ms. Raymond asks a question of a victim of schizophrenia; an answer is given; then, instead of cutting away, the camera holds the moment. In the silent aftermath, we see emotions in the faces that go deeper than the words. They resonate despair.
The documentary makers, best remembered for their ”Police Tapes,” focus this time on Bob, Missy and Steven, who have been diagnosed as chronic schizophrenics, ”a cruel life sentence,” as Ms. Raymond calls it in her spare commentary. The strength of the hour is in the interviews.
28-year-old Steven’s mild manner is belied by some of his expressed desires – ”to beat a baseball bat into the head of a gentleman.”
Released in 1989. 15 min. Copied from VHS tapes. TV documentary series.
