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THAT WAY MADNESS LIES...

First Run Features - 101 min
  • DIRECTOR: Sandra Luckow
  • STARRING: Sandra Luckow, Duanne Luckow, Scott Griffith

Synopsis:

What do you do when your brother descends into a black hole of mental instability - starting with falling for a Nigerian email scam but eventually winding up involuntary committed into the hospital made famous by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?

Award-winning filmmaker Sandra Luckow unflinchingly turns her camera on her own family as they attempt to navigate the broken mental health system in an effort to save her brother, Duanne. His iPhone video diary ultimately becomes an unfiltered look at the mind of a man with untreated schizophrenia as well as an indictment of how the system failed.

 

'That Way Madness Lies' has been nominated for the Women Film Critics Circle's award "Courage in Filmmaking." It is a particular honor as it is the only documentary nominated in the category.

Information:

Reviews

Overall Rating Based on 21 Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tell us what you think about this movie.
Current Reviews
Leire
5 out of 5 stars

Respectably, empathically and excellently done!

December 19, 2018
This documentary is a hymn to resilience, compassion, blind loyalty, and ultimately love!

Leire
5 out of 5 stars

Respectably, empathically and excellently done!

December 19, 2018
This documentary is a hymn to resilience, compassion, blind loyalty, and ultimately love!

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Mental Health Supporter
5 out of 5 stars

Well Done !

November 15, 2018
I was touched by the honesty in this film. It shows a family's struggle when a member has a mental illness. This is a story that needs to be brought to the attention of lawmakers and mental health professionals.

Susan S.
5 out of 5 stars

A spotlight on an American tragedy

November 14, 2018
This epic documentary is like nothing else I've ever seen. Personal, tragic, funny, inspiring, and often quirky -- it is a revealing look at what can happen (and often does) when a person with mental illness goes untreated. Essentially a family drama, the film is also a call to action for everyone touched by mental illness (and that's all of us). You need to see this film.

Allie
5 out of 5 stars

Eye-opening, heart wrenching

November 14, 2018
I personally knew this warm- hearted all American family. No one saw this coming. It is an eye-opening, gut wrenching look into a family torn up by mental illness. It brings to the forefront the need for a better mental health system than is presently in place. A must see!

Steve Harper
5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic, compelling, wrenching...

November 14, 2018
This is a heartbreaking account of mental illness. Sandra Luckow shows tremendous bravery as she digs deep into her personal life and her family history to chronicle the ups and downs of her brother's journey. She follows him from hospitalizations to jail time, to living on the streets. This is a fascinating account that is painful and enlightening. I highly recommend this documentary.

Lucy Mars
5 out of 5 stars

A Must See

November 13, 2018
This film is timely, poignant, powerful. Don't miss it.

Patricia DeChiara
5 out of 5 stars

Groundbreaking insight into mental illness!

November 13, 2018
Everyone should see this film as awareness of mental illness and its affect on families. Our system is not adequately equipped to deal with this and Ms. Luckow’s film points to the shortcomings that need to be addressed. Inspiring work!

danarema
5 out of 5 stars

A call to action

November 13, 2018
I have had the privilege of seeing That Way Madness Lies two times. This is a must-see film for anyone who cares about mental health issues. Sandra ushers us into the world of her brother Duanne, telling the story of trying to navigate the heart breaking challenges of mental illness. We are invited into the Luckow family's traumatic experience and see the effects this has on them. It is extremely powerful. I would encourage anyone who works in the mental health field or people who advocate for changes in the broken system to see this film. It will help link the clinical side of treatment to the reality of dealing with a loved one with a mental health issue in a compassionate way. There are so many heroes in this film, both times I watched it I was impressed by Sandra's willingness to share (at such an intimate level) with the world her family's story as well as by Duanne's friends who have not abandoned him. I don't think anyone could leave the theater without wondering how they can advocate for better mental health care. This one family's story can ignite a much needed change in the system.

Elizabeth
5 out of 5 stars

A Must See Movie

November 13, 2018
That Way Madness Lies...is an extremely powerful story of a family's struggle due to mental illness. It's devastating to witness how broken our mental health system is. Sandra Luckow's brother's journey is becoming too common in our society. I'm hoping the bravery it took to make this film will be a huge step toward a solution. Beautifully crafted, Sandra!

Gfloodnyc
5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating, insightful and so necessary to watch.

November 13, 2018
This is a fascinating and heartfelt story of watching a family member's battle with mental illness. The fact that they have so much personal footage from the man who is ill makes the story immediate and the narration just increases that level of intimacy- you feel like YOUR family member is the one in peril. I had no idea just how broken our system was and I think this lays out what is wrong in a clear and still so personal way. I know I keep saying "personal" but I really felt *I* went on the journey the family did in a very deep and intimate way. Still thinking about.

Brooke
5 out of 5 stars

Please see this!!!

November 13, 2018
I had the privilege of seeing THAT WAY MADNESS LIES early on. Sandra Luckow gives us an extraordinary peek inside what schizophrenia looks like. Then you must take a breath and realize this is her life with her brother and her family. The love is palpable, the story eye-opening and I can only hope that professionals & laymen alike see this film sooner rather than later.

Crispin
5 out of 5 stars

I can't believe they got this footage

November 13, 2018
What an amazing work. This documentary is really outstanding and I am just shocked at what was captured on videotape and cell phone recordings. The naration takes you through this family's heartwrenching ordeal in a way that leaves you feeling like you experienced it yourself. If you have directly or indirectly had a family member with mental illness, you will learn a lot with this story. I saw it a month ago and am still thinking about it.

LIFF
5 out of 5 stars

Courageous look at mental illness

November 13, 2018
Loved this film ! Well done! This film is an important look at mental illness, the judicial system and the need for sane medical help !

Angelab
5 out of 5 stars

Moving and Timely

November 13, 2018
Incredible view into modern day, real world mental health support failings. This family opens their doors to show gut wrenchingly real footage which leaves you wanting to hug, laugh and cry with them. Poignant and painful at times, the film has wonderful narrative and should be required for all city leaders challenged with changing the condition of adult mental health support systems nation wide. Love the Portland, Oregon Ties

Mark H.
5 out of 5 stars

Thought Provoking

November 13, 2018
Me being one of Duanne's friends, Sandra's film fills in the many gaps in my understanding of the events. The dedication Sandra gives to such complete documentation of the story is noteworthy. Duanne's story is difficult for me to watch, but Sandra has done an amazing job of separating her personal involvement from relaying the facts of the story...and letting the viewer decide what it means to them.

Sam
5 out of 5 stars

A game-changer

November 13, 2018
After seeing this documentary, I completely believe it is going to change the future of mental health policy in America. I've never seen such an intimate portrayal of the struggles of a family on film. Heartbreaking, thrilling, and undeniably IMPORTANT. Go see this.

David Wohl
5 out of 5 stars

A great film.

November 13, 2018
Luckow is a tower of strength and love for her family, which comes through every frame of this stunning film.

Michael B.
5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story - I was in tears

November 13, 2018
I was privileged to see this film at a Film Festival in New York and didn't know what to expect. I was in tears by the end, because the film was so beautiful and honest. How do you be the filmmaker AND the subject of your own film without it slipping into dark comedy? Sandra Luckow managed to keep the story real and personal without descending into any hysterics or cheap tricks. To watch her brother Duanne from early home movies, a happy and uber-talented young man, gradually descend into "madness" was harrowing, and all the more real because of the freedom afforded to him by the system. We watch and live his decline unflinchingly, our own madness tempered by Sandra's love, tolerance and patience in dealing with his struggles. If you're going to invest two hours of your life in a movie theater, skip the latest comic book adaptation and come see That Way Madness Lies... Your life will be forever impacted in a good way.

Jen
5 out of 5 stars

Powerful & Moving!

November 13, 2018
This film is so powerful and moving. Director Luckow presents her family's story with remarkable vulnerability. The story is heartbreaking and eye opening. It provides the viewer an enlightening view into mental illness and our incredibly deficient health system.

Ojedafilms
5 out of 5 stars

Filmed Over Six Years, That Way Madness Lies Looks at a Family Upended by Mental Illness

November 9, 2018
https://www.wweek.com/arts/movies/2017/05/10/filmed-over-six-years-that-way-madness-lies-looks-at-a-family-upended-by-mental-illness/