Freedom and Power

Rating: 9/10 (29 July 2010)

The theme of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, is in reality a sociology question in the form of a Motion Picture. That question can be summarized as "What is the proper Balance between Freedom and Order?" Randall P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is the central protagonist of this film. At the beginning of the film, he is being transferred from the state prison where he is incarcerated for Statutory Rape, to a mental facility for evaluation, following complaints of belligerency and violence. From the time he arrives at the facility he seems to enjoy disturbing the status-quo, upsetting certain individuals (Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) in particular) and inciting rebellion amongst the other patients against the authority of the nursing staff. Though this rebellion is often times uplifting, and seemingly good for the other patients' well being, at other times it is destructive and harmful especially during the ending of the film.
Nurse Ratched, while often portrayed as an unflinching power hungry authoritarian figure, does legitimately seem concerned for the well being of her patients. Like McMurphy, the outcome of her stance, seems to bring both good and ill for the patient's fragile mental states. She is the main antagonist to McMurphy, and the two often square off, almost using the other patients as pawns in a power struggle.
The film ends, after several confrontations (each escalating in intensity) with the aftermath of a disruptive and forbidden party involving alcohol and sex held in the ward after hours. One of the more emotionally disturbed patients (and new friend of McMurphy) commits suicide after facing the social consequences of an illicit sexual encounter McMurphy pressured him into during the party. After this suicide, a visibly shaken Nurse Ratched, attempts to maintain order encouraging the group to return to the daily routine. McMurphy is upset by her insistence on maintaining routine after the death of his friend, and thus attempts to strangle her to death. After this confrontation, he is lobotomized as he has become dangerous to others as indicated by his violent outburst. Once Chief (a close friend of McMurphy portrayed by Will Sampson) notices his condition, he suffocates him (out of seeming compassion) and escapes in a dramatic manner, in homage to McMurphy's earlier attempt.
Both sides of the quandary of freedom and order "win" and "lose" in the ending of the film. Nurse Ratched protects the group by putting down (via the lobotomy) the dangerous element of McMurphy, yet, McMurphy inspired the freedom of "Chief". It seems to me that the film wants us to ask how much individual freedom is necessary, and how much social control is necessary, yet answers neither for us. The film is different than say George Orwell's 1984 in that it raises the issue without preaching a message, letting us decide for ourselves. It also differs from 1984 by its modern day realistic setting, as opposed to the fantastic future of 1984, making the question more timely, as opposed to the more speculative and/ or allegorical nature of Orwell's work.
The editing of the film was utilitarian, but that is not necessarily an insult. The film introduces us to the characters and situation at hand, without getting in our way with distracting "artistic" shots or melodramatic scenes (not that those are necessarily bad in the right context). There are a few places where the direction and editing do differ from the rest of the film, but these scenes are well done, and do not effect the feel of the film negatively.
The first is the opening, where the daily routine as structured by Ratched is enacted as the nursing and security staff ready the ward for the day. The almost robotic readying of the pills, waking of the patients and starting of the records is almost entirely dialogue free, allowing us to see the precision of the status-quo before the arrival of McMurphy.
The second is the climax of the film. The shots become longer, and the scenes slower paced, so that we can feel the weight of the various actions both past and present. As the consequences of both Ratched and McMurphy's actions come to light, the film forces us to focus on the human cost of the fight.
One Motif Present throughout the film is the use of the Nudy Deck. Several times throughout the film, McMurphy pulls out a deck of pornographically themed playing cards, which he seems to play with during important scenes. To me the deck seems to reference his irreverence toward authority and the concerns of others. He also uses the deck to toy with the mind of one of the more simple minded patients. He seems to escape into them, when he does not want to bother with the world around him.
Another Motif is the Mountain. In the opening shot, we see a mountain range in the distance. Later in the film Chief tells McMurphy he is strong as a mountain. Later when Chief escapes, the music that played during the mountain range shot returns, bringing us back to the image of the mountain. The mountain is strength of will.
The theme of this film is classic. The question of how much power a person should have, as compared to that of authority figures, is one that has been debated for centuries. I like that this film points out the argument, without attempting to give us an answer. It expects us to bring our own assumptions, feelings and thoughts to the film, so that we may interpret it according to our values, and not those of anyone else.