Irving Jacoby shot this film at an actual mental hospital in Connecticut. It centers on Joe, a psychiatric aide at the hospital, who deals with the patients with an understated level of compassion and patience that most of us would find impossible. Slowly, some of them improve, some remain the same, and some, I would imagine, retreat further into the madness that makes it impossible for them to return to the world. We get to see his attitude contrasted with another aide, one who took the job because nothing better was available. Once it shows up, he's gone.
Jacoby's career was directing documentaries like this, often with someone else getting equal credit. He died in 1985, age 86.
Jacoby's career was directing documentaries like this, often with someone else getting equal credit. He died in 1985, age 86.
