The Fisher King

This movie reflection is based on the philosophical American comedy-drama named “The Fisher King” in directed by Terry Gilliam in 1991. This film is mainly focused on human problems, such as sin, redemption, desperation and solitude, search for personal fulfillment, and as well as the egoism- altruism, and human motivation. Even though New York is the background of capitalism and materialism, the symbol of love and the meaning of life reminded me again through the film. 

The film, “The fisher King” based on the fisher King in a myth of middle-age. There are two main characters; Jack and Parry. Jack, a cynical, arrogant, and irresponsible radio DJ becomes suicidally dependent after his insensitive comment about yuppies deserving to die to prompt a caller to commit a murder at a popular Manhattan bar. At that time, Jack showed the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder when he was in his radio glory days, is suffering from depression and substance abuse brought on by the guilt he feels in Parry’s tragedy. Parry was a former history professor in a university now he becomes a visionary homeless psychosis widower after his wife shot down and killed right in front of him. Now, Parry believes that he is a knight and on a mission to find the Holy Grail. Parry is showing post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.

Jack feels guilty toward to Parry because Parry’s wife was murder by the Jack’s psychotic caller on air. For that reason, Jack realized that to save Parry and his life, Jack has to help Parry to get over the trauma and make good relationship with Lydia and save Parry’s life. In that process, Jack experiences “cognitive dissonance” means a feeling of discomfort caused by performing an action that is inconsistent with his beliefs. In other words, Jack feels responsible for help Parry but not because of the feeling of guilty. Both Jack and Parry enter into the friendship and experience the changing of loneliness and despair of human beings into love and forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.

Parry’s boundary between conscious and unconscious is blurred. His memories and experiences come and go irregularly across this boundary. In the meantime, those in the subconscious world rise up to the conscious world, triggered by external stimulus.

After lost his wife, Parry didn’t talk a year following his wife’s death. Initially, he must be experienced the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is actually closed to psychosis is one of a severe mental disorders. As time goes by, now, Jack is experiencing the delusion and hallucination of schizophrenia disorder appears. For example, he believes that he is a knight on a special quest to save and defend the world, so that he has to seek the Holy Grail. Besides, Parry can see the red knight whenever approaching the memory of wife’s dies.

Lydia showed us the avoidant personality disorder until making the decision would have a good relationship with Parry.

In this film, there are three symbolisms. First, “the fisher king” is a legendary king who treats all human’s suffering and to find the Holy Grail of love and mercy. The fisher king can be the form of both Jack and Parry. To be healed mentally and physically, they need each other. Secondly, the Fisher King is the guardian of the Holy Grail, which, in medieval legends, is the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and which was used to collect drops of his blood at the Crucifixion. Holy Grail is a symbol of God’s divine grace. It is the belief that our sin can be forgiven and we can be re-new through God’s grace. Finally, the red terrifying knight is a symbol of Parry’s traumatic memory is located in his deep unconsciousness. Initially, the red knight is a symbol of Parry’s fear.

This film is shown that how persons’ emotional wounded can be healed. It was not the Holy Grail, not the God rather heterosexual love was right. Besides, as a same human being, such a love for wounded person, and respect for life can be healed people’s hurt. This film shows a beautiful paradox that people wounded with lost loved one, can be healed eventually with people.