Without Alicia’s unconditional love and commitment to John despite his illness, he probably would have been forced to stay in the psychiatric facility. With her support, he learns to accept his illness and chooses to cope with it by ignoring his hallucinations rather than dealing with the effects of the medication again. Though he still experiences the hallucinations, he is able to continue living a normal life and begins teaching again, which shows that those with mental illness can still thrive.
The way this film effectively portrays the realistic nature of delusions and hallucinations, the effects of mental illness and antipsychotic medications on normalcy of life, and the importance of loving, supportive relationships is all crucial in providing insight and understanding for someone aspiring to be a mental health professional who may work with individuals and their families dealing with mental