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The Reality of Living with Severe Mental Illness Explored in Documentary
January 2026 – Rivertown Film takes a deep dive into one of the most urgent yet overlooked crises in America: the harsh truth about dealing with mental illness every day when it presents “No One Cares About Crazy People” on Wednesday, January 28th at the Nyack Center (58 Depew Ave., Nyack).
The documentary was inspired by Ron Powers’ acclaimed book of the same name – a hybrid narrative of tragic family memoir and searing social history. The film follows families and individuals who are struggling with schizophrenia, bipolar and other disorders, all trapped in the clutches of a dysfunctional system. Concurrently, a growing movement of national advocates are introduced.
Director Gail Freedman delivers a film that’s both intimate and wide-reaching. We witness as author Powers, whose two sons are schizophrenic, come to terms with the suicide of one of those sons. He and his wife are ushered into the “sub-nation” of those with serious mental illnesses, a third of whom go untreated. We also meet the Burgos family, whose husband and father suffers from severe bi-polar disorder, enveloping the family in crisis after crisis. Finally, the heartrending tale of Mark Rippee, a psychotic, blind and homeless man unfolds. Despite the ministrations of his two sisters, Rippee is unable to transcend his grim reality.
The film also presents the birth of a national grassroots movement to radically reform our broken care systems. California, the epicenter of serious mental illness reform, now has its Governor and state legislature responding to public pressure with bold and controversial initiatives. These are followed over the course of three years, with Governor Gavin Newsom sitting for an interview. “No One Cares About Crazy People” harnesses the power of storytelling as a tool for change, while galvanizing public discussion.
There will be a post-film discussion with Gail Freeman and the film’s editor, Dina Potocki, as well as Alyssa Schmidt, Vice President of Mobile Support Services at Greater Mental Health of New York, based in Valley Cottage. The Community Partner for the film is Greater Mental Health of New York.
Doors to the Nyack Center open at 7:30pm, and the film begins at 8pm. Tickets are $13/General Admission, $11/Students & Seniors, and $9/Rivertown Film Members More information can be found at rivertownfilm.org.
Rivertown Film is a non-profit organization which was founded in 2001. Their mission is devoted to celebrating, exploring and promoting the art of the motion picture through film screenings and educational programs. The organization is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts and with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and our corporate sponsors are Elena Schloss, Happy Dwellings with Elena/ Julia B. Fee, Sotheby’s International Realty, PainterSmith, Harrington Press, and Emerald Medicare.
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