Neurology in film: The best of the best

Even with the thousands of hours of content across all the many streaming services, sometimes it can be difficult to choose what to press ‘play’ on next. Why not choose something that gives insight into the human mind?

Throughout cinematic history, there have been some very commendable and not so commendable portrayals of neurology. Yes, you could trudge through them to find the best of the best, but we have done the hard yards and put together a list for you.

Why not share one of these movies with your social group through Netflix’s group party app: https://www.netflixparty.com/. Stay socially connected and learn something new about neurological conditions while hanging out with your friends at a safe distance during self-isolation!

Check out our list of great movies to watch while in self-isolation:

Still Alice (2014)

Dr Alice Howard is a renowned linguistics professor at Columbia University, a mother, and a wife. Words, which were her currency, begin to escape her and eventually she must confront a stark reality; the diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s. Her sense of belonging in the world and her family must now find a new definition, and to watch it unfold is to have your heart both broken and filled.

Rain Man (1988)

Car dealer, Charlie Babbitt, learns that his father has died and returns home to discover that he has an older autistic brother who lives in a mental facility, and that the facility has been left their father's $3 million fortune. With money in his eyes, he checks his brother out of the facility and together they embark on a cross-country journey back to Los Angeles in which the beauty of brotherhood is unmasked.

Inside Out (2015)

Made in consultation with numerous accredited psychologists, Pixar's 'Inside Out' uses the vehicle of animation and children's storytelling to convey how human emotions affect interpersonal relationships. It tells the story of 11-year-old Riley who must leave behind her life in Minnesota to move to San Francisco with her family. She and her five fundamental emotions; Fear, Disgust, Sadness, Joy and Anger, must now work together to accept her new life.

Memento (2000)

Amnesia is a common plot device in film but very rarely is it depicted with accuracy. 'Memento' is considered to be one of those rare instances. Directed by Christopher Nolan, it follows a man who suffers from severe amnesia after an attack in which his wife is murdered. He then sets out to find his wife’s killer, which is no small feat for someone who loses the ability to form new memories. Using fragmented narrative, amnesia is shown in a very candid light. 

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)

Based on the true story of Elle editor, Jean-Dominique Bauby, this biographical film depicts Bauby's life after a massive stroke; a stroke which renders him almost completely paralysed, sparing his left eye. With the help of a speech therapist, they develop a communication system in which he spells out words by blinking. Using this system, he sets himself the painstaking task of writing a memoir, a memoir which became his legacy.