A brilliant masterpiece, but I understand why it's difficult to watch.

Rating: 10/10 (10 October 2019)

My second review in IMDB. I went to watch this film for a second time and I'm considering a third. I have never, and I mean, NEVER, wanted to go back and watch a movie again and again. As other commenters - I admit that I also understand why the movie causes division. I understand the political views, I understand that many shooting victim relatives are worried this could somehow spark an individual with the desire to shoot, to really do it, I understand the movie TALKS openly about mental illness. I am so sorry to all victims. But you should understand that this movie is not MEANT to empathize Arthur through allowing yourself to justify his actions. He is a broken man, he was abused to the point he lost his way. People get all kinds of bullying and a lot of people survive though it, yet a lot of them don't. They either end it or they turn into the darker side - a coping mechanisms, sick mechanism. But this IS the human. It is complex, it is an endless encyclopedia and I think it is of a great importance to show this. Maybe the word you're searching for is heartbreaking. We see a man who could have survived through the bullying, but instead he gave himself to the demons, because of constant social suppression merged with the mental illness he already had. It is how it is. Should we ignore it? Should we slam it just because it's political, or because it's showing guns, or because it touches the topic of mental illness, or anything else that sparks controversy? No... Yes, these topics are complex, it's not news, it is the hardest things to talk about, but I think it's bold and brave to make this film and I appreciate the whole cast and crew for making it. This film shows all of it, all raw from the human soul. And what makes it good is, as our screenwriting lecturer in our film course explains, we show a complex character, which does bad things, but we understand why he/she does them. We are not MEANT to sympathise, empathize, but UNDERSTAND why they did what they did.
I am sorry for those who find it dark or too involved in these topics. But I think it's extremely important for this movie to be here, to teach about things they don't tell us in school, but also to provoke yourself, to see what you should never turn into. This movie is NOT urging people to become criminals. No, no, no, no, no. It's supposed to make you sick, it's supposed to make you want to leave the room, because you don't want to ever end up in this situation. Because we understand how horrible all of this is. Unfortunately, not all people will understand this movie. And this is where all the negativity comes from. As I said, I understand the so many relatives, friends, acquaintances of people who have died in similar scenarios, I understand why they are worried. We don't know who is watching this movie, we don't know what is going through their head. And unfortunately, it may cause a spark in them. But if this movie is not out, we never see it. We never understand. We never are aware, we don't have the proper knowledge of it. Because me knowing more about mental illness teaches me how to protect, how to react, how to preserve. It teaches me to treat people right, to be there for them, to NEVER do them wrong. And trust me, one person is not a lot, but it is something and it could save a soul.
It is a difficult film, but it was shown flawlessly.