Produced by and starring Halle Berry, “Frankie & Alice” gives a glimpse into what it’s like to suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Based on a true story and set in LA in the 70s, the viewer sees one woman’s episodes and recovery from the trauma that lead to her developing the mental illness. Also referred to as multiple or split personality disorder, it is one of the mental illnesses with a heavy stigma in mainstream media.
As someone who has had a dissociative identity episode and struggles with dissociation in general, I felt the movie was very realistic. Because D.I.D. is a mental illness stemming from (often early childhood) trauma, the symptoms can be different for everyone. I didn’t absolutely love everything about the movie itself; however, they consulted with the woman it was based off and it came across that her story was handled with respect. I won’t give a full synopsis in this post, rather I’ll focus on the aspects of the film that resonated most with me.
Firstly, Frankie struggles to maintain stability and make ends meet as a go-go dancer. Sex work is a job that can require less consistency and stability than many wage jobs, and can be a viable means of survival for many, myself included. Frankie is triggered by various events/situations that lead her into a crisis. From the outside, because of the lack of consistent care, she is perceived to be acting/lashing out during her episodes, or drug addicted during her blackouts. As a result, she doesn’t receive an accurate diagnosis until one doctor takes notice of her (depicted in the film as a near obsession) and decides to aggressively treat her. The other doctors at the hospital are ready to release her, but the psychiatrist is determined to prove she is suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder.
One of the hardest parts of D.I.D. is not receiving an accurate diagnosis. It can be impossible if a doctor doesn’t see the person suffering during the identity episodes. Often times the person suffering will not remember the episode. Another element making it hard for her to receive treatment was her family, portrayed by Phylicia Rashad and Chandra Wilson, dismissing the severity of her behavior. This can occur because of unawareness, ignorance or shame for example.
Some doctors do not believe in the diagnosis and will treat and diagnose for other symptoms like PTSD, Depression or Mania. Mental health care has made progress since the 70s, although pop culture is slow to catch up with the advances in the field. The most effective treatment for D.I.D. is therapy in my opinion. But during intensive therapy, triggers can lead symptoms to progress. It can definitely be an “it gets worse before it gets better,” situation.
The best part of this film was that it served to show how brutal the struggle is for someone in the throws of dissociation. The film never makes Frankie, or Genius, or even the bigoted Alice–all three identities portrayed by Halle Berry–out to be the villain or cause of her misfortune. Rather the film serves as a tool for understanding and empathy toward the main character overall. For that, I appreciated the film and found it refreshing even though it was personally hard for me to watch. The message it presents is that though it may be difficult or inaccessible for many, there is help if you are struggling.
Movie poster for “Frankie & Alice” from IMDB
Peace,
Kei
©2018 SUAVEtrans | All Rights Reserved.
SUAVE Trans 