NYFF AT 51 REVIEW: "JIMMY P"

BY LIZ WHITTEMORE

Have you ever had a dream where you were flying? Or maybe, falling… and then hit the ground? Most of us can shake weird dreams. Most of us are able to associate them with something we read, saw, or maybe something we ate. Most of us haven’t experienced the horrors of war.

In JIMMY P. PSYCHOTHERAPY OF A PLAINS INDIAN, a WWII vet and Native American Blackfoot, is experiencing systems such as dizzy spells, hearing loss, intense, sometimes blinding migraines. His sister takes him to the Topeka Military Hospital in Kansas. There, he is subjected to rounds of tests from the physical to the neurological. A team of doctors concludes there are no physiological causes and diagnose him with schizophrenia. He feels isolated but the doctors are determined to help him. They contact George Deveraux, a French anthropologist, psychoanalyst and specialist in Native American Culture. George is allowed to see Jimmy for one hour every day. Devereaux asks him about his dreams and together they wander through Jimmy’s past. Using his knowledge of Jimmy’s culture, George is able to explore the connections between his memories and the images that confound and haunt him at night. This is a story of two very different men coming together to shape each other. George has faith in his abilities while Jimmy is determined not to lose himself in this illness. By the time the two men part way, Jimmy’s symptoms have disappeared and he finally comes to emotional amends with his life.

The film is based on the true story recounted in George Deveraux’s book Reality and Dream. Director and screenwriter, Arnaud Desplechin, explained that he wrote specifically for his leading men, Benicio Del Toro (Jimmy) and Mathieu Amalric (George). Both actors are impeccable in their performances. You truly believe their friendship transcends the boundaries of the film. Del Toro has a commanding presence, never expressing a false moment as Jimmy. Amalric plays George’s personal flaws with elegance.  In a time before PTSD had a name, JIMMY P., sheds the light on a different, non-judgmental approach to treatment. The exploration of cross cultural discussions permeates the script. Not only is this a beautiful story of friendship but it’s a history lesson we should all take to heart.

VERDICT: Must See

Written and Directed by: Arnaud Desplechin Starring: Benicio Del Toro and Mathieu Amalric Adapted from the Book: Reality and Dreams by George Devereux Country: France Language: English

BOTTOM LINE: This film is a lovely exploration of two men from vastly different life paths coming together with common goals: understanding and acceptance.