EPA-1639 – Film, Cultural Psychiatry and the Holy Land

Abstract

Introduction

Film wields an extraordinary power and can both influence and be influenced by society. Given that 1/4 people suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives, mental health issues play huge roles in our society and on our screens.

The medical film festival Medfest operates under the auspices of the RCPsych and the aim of the festival in 2012 was,’To stimulate debate of the social and political implications of portrayals of health and illness on our screens’.

Waltz with Bashir is a film that vividly depicts the 1982 Lebanon War through the lens of an Israeli veteran.

The former Prime Minister of Lebanon stated,’…that Lebanon would be the last Arab state to have peace with Israel…’

Aims

To demonstrate how the power and synergy of film can be utilised to deliver the peaceful message of co-existence.

Method

The WPA announced that it would be holding the 2012 Cultural Psychiatry Conference in Tel Aviv. I submitted an abstract on Medfest and the portrayal of PTSD in Waltz with Bashir.

Results

I received an invitation from the Scientific Committee to deliver a Keynote Lecture in Israel.

Discussion

RCPsych initiatives like Medfest inspired me to challenge preconceptions and prejudices. Most importantly, however, whilst I have no misgivings that it will take more than a lecture to resolve the on-going Arab-Israeli conflict this experience has given me, a Lebanese early-trainee psychiatrist, and others that glimmer of hope that one day the two people may live in peaceful co-existence.