Nise: The Heart of Madness

1

Good morning.

NISE:

NISE:

The Heart of Madness

NATIONAL PSYCHIATRIC CENTER

Good morning.

I'm Dr. Nise da Silveira,

Dr. Nelson is expecting me.

One second, please.

Eugenia, Dr. Nise is here.

I was waiting for you.

Come with me please.

The cafeteria is now

on the other side.

This is the women's ward

and here is the men's.

Open the door, please.

No, I don't want to.

Stay still.

Relax.

I don't want to.

Let's go, doctor.

I don't want to.

No.

You've already seen the courtyard.

We let the patients come out

depending on their status.

When the most aggressive ones

are here, nobody goes in.

Let's go, doctor.

- Through there, doctor.

- Thank you.

Well, as I was saying,

the method is

the result of research

carried out by

Egas Moniz, from Portugal,

who has won

the Nobel Prize for medicine.

A lobotomy is prescribed

to psychotic patients

who in obsessive states, show

a high degree of aggressiveness

which prevents them from

having a healthy social life.

The surgery is done

through bilateral trepanation

on the inferior frontal region.

Here you can see

the thalamus and the cut.

This white substance

in the frontal lobe,

is what prevents the connections.

Gentlemen, the results

are very satisfactory.

We are talking about

patients who were responsible

for the destruction of

their families,

and now live in

harmony with them.

In USA, Dr. Walter Freeman

found a cheap and unusual

instrument to do it.

An ice pick

which enabled him to cure thousands

of patients in a short period of time.

Thanks to lobotomy, psychiatry

is now a medical specialty.

Thank you, gentlemen.

I would like to use this moment to

introduce Dr. Nise da Silveira,

who is returning as a

psychiatrist in this hospital.

To continue our meeting,

let's hear

Dr. Marcelo Mouro's lecture

about electroconvulsive therapy.

Doctors, electroconvulsive

therapy is the most

advanced treatment

tor mental illness.

The method was developed in the 30s

and consists of inducing

convulsion through electricity.

Bring in the patient, please.

Let me go.

Get me off of here.

Let me go.

Let me go.

Get me out of here.

Get me out.

Help me!

I don't want to.

This patient suffers

from schizophrenia.

Most cases resistant

to every kind of treatment

disappeared

after this procedure.

Please, pass me the electrodes.

As you can see,

the electrodes can be used

uni or bilaterally

Then you just turn this on

and press this button.

The convulsion can last

up to 40 seconds.

The patient shouldn't eat tor 2 hours

before the procedure,

as it can cause vomiting.

We have had great results

both in catatonia

and in acute schizophrenia.

Excuse me, doctor,

how is the dosage determined?

The charge should be enough for the

loss of consciousness and convulsion.

How much is enough?

- Depends on each case.

- How about this case?

Around 30 amperes.

How did you reach

this conclusion, Doctor?

By experience.

You'll get used to it.

I don't believe in healing

through violence, Nelson.

Science has evolved

in the past few years.

Our success rate with

lobotomy is up to 90%,

results comparable with the best

surgical centers

in Europe and North America.

I can't do that.

Nise, then you can't treat here.

There is a sector

run by the nurses.

The funds are low, but I think

we can do something there.

I know you're overqualified for that,

but it's what we have for you.

OTS:
Occupational

Therapy Sector.

There is so much to do

in this country,

instead of having fun,

cheering up the patient.

Occupational therapy?

Do you know what that is, Nise?

Do you?

It will compromise your career.

I don't care about my career, Mario.

Especially as, this is the only way for

me to stay at the hospital.

Nobody cares about that sector,

that's why it's run by orderlies.

Mario, if I cared about

what other people think,

I wouldn't do anything.

I know what's better for me.

I want to work.

The other day Lord Byron

peed on my suit.

You shouldn't say that.

It's not true.

Our cats are very well-behaved, Mario.

Right...

Let's start the fun.

Place your bets in my hand.

Get ready.

Go.

Good morning.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

I don't know if

anyone told you,

I'm Dr. Nise da Silveira,

and as of today

I'm in charge of this sector.

Pull up a chair, please.

- Sit down.

- I'm fine standing.

And you are?

Ivone.

- And you?

- Lima.

I want to start by understanding

what you do here.

- We put the patients...

- We put the nutcases to work.

Fixing stuff, cleaning

the toilets, sweeping.

After years away, I'm shocked

by the state of the hospital,

but I count on you to make

this place at least pleasant.

All right?

Lima, you can start

by taking out the trash.

Ivone, are there

any cleaning products?

Doctor, I'm not paid

to clean this place, ok.

Well then, Ivone,

it's just the two of us.

A bucket, a broom.

People decide what trash is.

People decide.

What are you looking for

in the trash?

What's your name?

People decide what trash is.

Seeds aren't trash.

Seeds are to be planted.

Seeds are to be planted.

People decide what trash is.

Trash is trash.

Good morning.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

I need your attention.

I'm taking control of the OTS

and would like to know

how I can collaborate

with you.

What kind of collaboration?

I'm thinking about introducing

new activities

to supplement the treatment.

On this form you should

prescribe the therapy based

on the needs of your patients.

On the back,

write your objectives

and I'll take it from there.

I'm sure that many will benefit.

Some sewing

won't hurt anyone.

Occupational therapy.

Sorry,

I used the wrong term.

- I'm thinking about...

- I have to go, Doctor.

I have a lot of patients to treat.

Explain to me later.

Let's go.

Don't take this.

Put it down.

Let's go.

Welcome. Come in.

Come on in.

Don't touch anything.

Hands off.

You can't play with that.

Come here.

Lima, stand up.

Let's sit on the ground.

I want to sit in a circle,

so everyone can see each other.

I want to tell you my name.

It's Nise.

We need to organize.

I need to learn about you

so that we can...

Get started.

Let's sit down.

I won't say it again. Sit.

Lima, quiet.

Leave them alone, Lima.

Leave them alone.

Ivone, let them

make themselves comfortable.

Nobody needs to sit down.

Let them do whatever they want to.

Seeds are to be planted.

You can come in.

What is your name?

I'm Carlinhos, Carlinhos.

- Sertanejo.

- Sertanejo can come in too.

Sit down, nutcase.

Sit down.

I'm not crazy,

the craziness got in me.

Help me, sit down.

Doctor...

Listen, observe...

Shut up.

What they say here is precious.

This is the base of our work.

Listen, observe

and shut up.

Carlinhos.

Do you want to plant

these seeds outside?

Seeds to be planted.

Seeds are life that make life,

that makes seeds,

that make life.

Seeds are to be planted.

- Good morning, Eugnia

- Good morning, Doctor.

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