Unexpected PTSD Sighting: Shutter Island

Today we had a day-date and went to see Shutter Island, the latest movie by director Martin Scorsese, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. We both enjoyed the movie, although it wasn't what we expected from the trailer. In typical Scorsese fashion, the movie is long and everything leads up to a shocking ending. We wish we could tell you more, but we don't want to ruin it for you. That said... we were intrigued to find that PTSD plays an interesting role in the storyline. Flashbacks, headaches, confusion, war stories... parts of movie sounded very familar. Of course, the film is set in the 1950s and the war discussed was WWII, but the symptoms appear the same. Film Critic Roger Ebert describes it best:

Flashbacks suggest Teddy's traumas in the decade since World War II. That war, its prologue and aftermath, supplied the dark undercurrent of classic film noir. The term "post-traumatic shock syndrome" was not then in use, but its symptoms could be seen in men attempting to look confident in their facades of unstyled suits, subdued ties, heavy smoking and fedoras pulled low against the rain. DiCaprio and Ruffalo both affect this look, but DiCaprio makes it seem more like a hopeful disguise.

A wonderful actor (Nicole may be swayed by her high school obsession with Titanic), Leonardo DiCaprio plays the war veteran war hero well and is convincing in his PTSD moments. At times, the viewer also experiences the confusion of its main character and it gives a slight (although Hollywood version) of what it must feel like to experience the fog of war on home territory. We will continue this series, "Unexpected PTSD Sighting," as we see the issue enter into more and more of our movies, tv, books, etc. We've already seen examples on shows like "Grey's Anatomy" (JR hates that example). With the success of movies like "The Hurt Locker," it's likely that Iraq/Afghanistan war issues are going to continue to attract Hollywood's attention. Of course, JR would LOVE to be the on-set expert on PTSD. Just sayin'. (hint hint Hollywood).

Originally posted on PTSDdiary.com, 2/26/10