The Recovery Channel: Film screening and panel
- Prinsen 5
- 08. March 10:30 — 12:45
Director Ellen Ugelstad will be at Kosmorama for the screening of her latest film The Recovery Channel on Thursday, March 7th, and Friday, March 8th. Additionally, after the screening on March 8th at 10:30 AM, there will be a panel discussion featuring filmmaker Ellen Ugelstad, former environmental therapist Snorre Hovdal and researcher Julia Hagen.
The Recovery Channel is structured like a news broadcast with reports, interviews, and two news anchors in the studio. It focuses on the use of coercion in Norwegian psychiatry, revealing how institutions strip individuals of their freedom. After the camera is turned off, news anchor Randi experiences the difficulty of being a close relative to her sister Ylva, who struggles with mental health issues and refuses help.
This fascinating genre blend blurs the boundaries between documentary and fiction. By employing the familiar conventions of TV media, the film comments on how the press lacks the will to delve into this important issue. While mental illness often is simplified in the media—either through dramatic violent incidents or through uplifting stories of people recovering—filmmaker Ellen Ugelstad manages to present a much more nuanced picture.
The Recovery Channel is playful in form and at times a bit satirical, but above all, it is a deep dive into topics that are rarely highlighted.