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"A Beautiful Mind": longing to belong and to surpass
By Steve Lansingh | I really wasn't sure what to expect from "A Beautiful Mind." I'd seen quite a few negative articles attacking its inaccuracy, its oversimplification of mental illness, and its syrupy artistry. And I'd also noticed its Golden Globe for best drama, and praise from psychologists for its refusal to let mental illness become a gimmick or mere metaphor. Add to that my admiration for Russell Crowe as an actor, but my loathing of his ego, and the film was a real wild card for me.
I ended up liking the picture a lot more than I thought I would. Yes, perhaps it is unfortunate that the film implies that mental diseases can be controlled by willpower, but I think it's clear enough that John Nash is a genius and can do things with his mind that not everyone can. I, for one, appreciated being put in his shoes -- not many films have made audience members understand what it feels like to have a particular malady. If that's at the expense of the facts of Nash's life at times, so be it. Yes, I'm somewhat uncomfortable that the film makes Nash more of a family man hero than he necessarily was (it trims mention of homosexuality or his divorce), but I thought there was so much going on in the film already that it didn't need more distractions. It had a few moments of ghastly sentiment, but overall I was pleased with the film's exploration of genius and illness, and how one makes a life outside of society's norm.
When we first meet John Nash, he wants nothing to do with society. He doesn't have much use for friends, doesn't attend classes, and doesn't seek much from women besides "fluid exchange." He's a genius, and lifts himself above everyone else. He is special, and doesn't have time for mere mortals. Over time, he mellows, he marries, he finds friends, and then overnight discovers himself in a new predicament of being shunned himself. When he at last craves community, it is taken from him.
I imagine that most of us can relate to those dual pulls toward being normal and being unique. In high school especially, where the pool of friends is so small, I found myself pursuing others' interests in order to fit in, instead of pursuing my own. I suppose marriage finally ended for me this tearing of the self; after finding someone who accepted me as normal, I was free to be uniquely myself. Nash finds something similar in his marriage, I think, and to see him fight to hold onto that relationship -- and she to him -- was the most emotionally satisfying part of the story.
I think there's a parallel tension within the American church. There's a certain kind of behavior that's considered normal within the Christian subculture, even though only half of it is particularly Biblical, but people go along with it because they want to fit in. We are not encouraged to be unique, to think for ourselves, to rock the conservative boat, because that would rob the powers that be of their funds and their status. But I believe that any developing relationship with God is going to be unique. God will call us to different things, and we'll be pushed to explore new ideas. Our desire for acceptance and normalcy is filled by God, then we are free to be unique to the world. I believe this is what the Bible means by "freedom in Christ" -- not just freedom from sin but freedom to be authentically ourselves.
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