“Using superimpositions, rapid and insistent visual patterns, fantasy sequences, and the visual flamboyance of actors impersonating mad people, A Page of Madness builds an atmosphere of astonishing intensity.” – Chris Fujiwara

A visionary masterpiece once thought lost forever, A PAGE OF MADNESS is a bold and still-shocking experiment in avant-garde horror. Often compared to the German Expressionistic masterpiece The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the film was inspired by director Teinosuke Kinugasa’s visit to a mental hospital. The story was developed by Teinosuke in collaboration with members of the experimental literary collective Shinkankaku, including future Nobel Prize winner Tasunari Kawabata and tells—in oblique fashion—of a man wracked with guilt, believing his wanton cruelty drove his wife insane. He takes a job as a janitor at the asylum where she’s incarcerated so that he can care for her. When he comes to fear her illness may prevent their daughter from getting married, he gradually loses his own grip on reality. Replete with fantastical images and cutting-edge techniques, the film builds to a crescendo of intense psychological fragmentation. With its bold and striking visual style, its ambiguous narrative, and its close connections to the most progressive thinking about film of its day, it’s no wonder A PAGE OF MADNESS has earned a reputation as one of silent cinema’s most mind-melting dives into the depths of madness.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Arkadin presents INSTITUTIONALIZED: MENTAL INSTITUTIONS ON FILM, a series of movies that depict asylums, sanitariums, and psychiatric hospitals — some with unvarnished realism, others with surrealism, whimsy or horror. At several screenings, academics and mental health experts will introduce the film with a talk that unpacks the film’s treatment of mental healthcare and provides context on the history of psychiatric institutions.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.