Directed by Nicolas Philibert
On The Adamant
Directed by Nicolas Philibert
The Adamant is a one-of-a-kind place: a floating center on the Seine River in the heart of Paris that offers day programs for adults with mental health disorders. Its attendees come from across the city and are offered care that grounds them in time and space, helping them achieve recovery and stability. Through a blend of therapy, education, and culture rooted in music and the arts, the Adamant offers an eye-opening alternative to the dehumanizing way in which even the most enlightened societies treat mental health. The community that exists on the boat is thoughtfully constructed and maintained by the staff and the people receiving care alike. Their meetings and conversations reveal the camaraderie and collective humanity of a group of people whose similarities far outweigh their differences. Winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, this affecting, enlightening documentary from nonfiction master Nicolas Philibert (To Be and to Have, In the Land of the Deaf) invites viewers to come aboard the Adamant and witness the transformational power of art and community.
Reviews More Reviews
“Compassionate, intelligent and shrewdly observed…there is a gentle and very happy sense of freedom and possibility aboard the Adamant, and there is enormous warmth, sympathy and human curiosity in this film.”
“A moving testament to what people are capable of. Not only a depiction of psychiatric treatment administered with plenty of warmth and enthusiasm, but a portrait of several individuals who, despite their noticeable disabilities, are capable of producing original and moving works of art.”
"ON THE ADAMANT is most moving when it stands back, letting its most disenfranchised subjects talk, or shout, or sing.”
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Technical Info
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Color: Color