3. Angel Baby (1995)
Angel Baby is an excellent Australian film that follows the lives of Harry and Kate - both schizophrenics - who meet at a group therapy session and fall passionately in love. Both of them are fine whenever they are on their medication. Harry can even keep down a good job. But his brother, who has nursed Harry when he was ill, has misgivings about the relationship. Kate gets pregnant and goes off her meds for fear of harming the baby. Harry goes off his meds in sympathy and a show of solidarity. Of course it all goes to hell in a hand basket and Kate ends up pleading for her meds as she is in such mental agony. She is hospitalised. When she does have the baby she dies in labour. Harry asks his brother to look after his baby. The ending is left open as to whether he commits suicide. Schizophrenia - the disease - has rarely been portrayed in a realistic, non-sensationalised manner in cinema. Prior to A Beautiful Mind, it was hardly represented at all in a way that people could truly understand the illness. Angel Baby is a terrific depiction of schizophrenia and points out the difficulties women with schizophrenia face when they are pregnant. Should they stay on their meds or not? And attendant worry about the effects of drugs on the foetus. It also is very pro-medication. It shows how when schizophrenics stop their medication - things fall apart and life becomes a train-wreck. A very realistic portrayal of the disease by both lead actors.