One of the greatest challenges of any art form is fully conveying the internal experiences of its characters. It’s even more difficult when these characters are on the spectrum of mental illness. While there are plenty ofgreat movies that put a spotlight on mental health, how one captures the internal dialogue, the swirl of emotions, and their potential to invade every moment of life is a puzzle that few manage to capture with authenticity. Schizophrenia, in particular, is a tough one; it is a condition that is difficult to navigate without becoming exploited or villainized.
With so few films finding a means to convey schizophrenia accurately,Clean, Shavenhas become championed among a faithful few because of its ability to do just that. Let’s explore how the 1993 film excelled where others fell short in depicting schizophrenia, and whetherClean, Shavenis still worth watching decades after its release in the changing cultural landscape.
Clean, Shaven
Getting Close and Intimate with Mental Health in ‘Clean Shaven’
Being released from a care facility but still struggling with schizophrenia, Peter Winter (Peter Greene) embarks on a mission to find his daughter Nicole, who is now living with an adopted family. In a world that feels alien to him,Peter becomes increasingly paranoid of external forces keeping him from finding his daughter and controlling his thoughts and actions. His quest becomes further complicated when law enforcement begins to suspect him in the death of another girl, making his desire to reunite with his daughter a cause for concern.
Clean, Shavenmarked the directorial debut of Lodge Kerrigan, leading many to champion him as a future voice in cinema. However, since the release ofClean, Shavenin 1993, Kerrigan has only worked on a small batch of projects, including similar character studies like the masterpiecesClaire DolanandKeane, and his underrated TV series,The Girlfriend Experience. He’s an outsider artist whose original ideas didn’t make any money; as such, he’s resorted to television work, directing acclaimed episodes of some great shows (The Americans)and more mainstream, for-hire work (such asTulsa KingandThe Killing).
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Like his few other films,Clean, Shavenstays focused on the character Peter Winter and his struggles, making actor Peter Greene the only notable actor on the project. The movie was Greene’s second starring role in a feature film, withLaws of Gravitycoming out a year previous, in 1992. Since then, Greene has become a staple of the industry with over 90 credits, including playing the villainous Dorian inone of Jim Carrey’s best movies,The Mask.Clean, Shavenremains one of his greatest performances.
How ‘Clean, Shaven’ Captures Schizophrenia by Immersing the Viewer in Its Symptoms
The approach thatClean, Shaventakes in exploring schizophrenia sets the groundwork for its authenticity in portraying the condition. Notably, Lodge Kerrigan puts the onus on the viewer to interpret and experience the actions happening to Peter Winter;the movie is not exploitative and refrains from using a narrative or exposition to explain what he is going through.
The viewer feels inexplicably tied to Peter’s fate as he struggles with his mental health and his desire to rebuild the family he wants. At the same time, the film stays morally ambiguous, not offering a clear reason for Peter’s actions or giving a ‘heartwarming’ story of a family reunited. It may seem bleak, butClean, Shavenbecomes a very intimate viewing experience by forgoing conventional narratives.
“With Clean, Shaven, I really tried to examine the subjective reality of someone who suffered from schizophrenia, to try to put the audience in that position to experience how I imagined the symptoms to be: auditory hallucinations, heightened paranoia, disassociative feelings, anxiety. Hopefully the audience would feel at the end of it like how it must be to feel that way for a lifetime and not just eighty minutes…” Lodge Kerrigan
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The sound design ofClean, Shavendeserves mention, with an intrusive mix of electronic noises, overlapping voices, static, and exaggerated alarms overwhelming. It’s directly compared with the roaming of AM radio stations. Purposely uncomfortable and nauseating, the score conveys the hallucinations that those dealing with schizophrenia can face. Delusions and paranoia further play out in the form of hallucinations experienced by Peter that, under Kerrigan’s guidance, blur the lines between mental illness and reality. More subtle yet brilliant additions include Peter’s decline in self-care, which is not just reflective of the title but is another common symptom that can arise in those afflicted by the condition.
Should You Watch ‘Clean, Shaven’?
As perUCLA Health, the internet has marked a change in the way that people suffering from schizophrenia get help, but it also has its adverse effects; how do you tell someone that their phone is not spying on them when it likely is? That said, without Peter Winter’s character inClean, Shavennot constantly checking his phone to help feed his delusions, there is something archaic about the movie in an age where most people’s understanding of the condition comes from online glimpses of sufferers struggling. This may seem like a moot point for a film that so brilliantly captures the sensations and concepts of the condition. Still, some modern viewers may find the story slightly alien, so far removed fromthe horrors sensationalized through social media.
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Though tragic and agonizing pictures can be hard for audiences to witness, they nonetheless offer poignant insight and touch the heartstrings of many.
The importance and impact ofClean, Shavenwill still resonate with those who have had a long history of exploring cinema throughout the decades and are comfortable with more nuanced stories that don’t rely on sensationalism. Moreover, those interested in mental health and how it can shape narratives should give the movie a shot. It is a deeply profound and unique cinematic experience if they have not.You can streamClean, Shavenon theCriterion Channel and you can watch it here. You can watch the trailer below.
