Three Christs Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A doctor tries to cure three guys who think they’re Jesus by putting them in a room together, proving once and for all that group therapy might just be messier than a divinity school debate.

🍿 Three Christs: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Revolutionary Treatment at Ypsilanti State Hospital

Set in 1959 at Michigan’s Ypsilanti State Hospital, Dr. Alan Stone arrives with a groundbreaking approach to treating paranoid schizophrenic patients. Dissatisfied with the standard, often harsh methods like electroshock therapy, lobotomies, and heavy sedation, Dr. Stone believes in the power of empathetic, psychological treatment. His radical idea is to bring together patients suffering from the same delusion. He specifically seeks out individuals who all believe they are Jesus Christ, aiming to explore how their shared delusion might be addressed through focused interaction and therapy sessions.

Gathering the ‘Three Christs’

Dr. Stone identifies and brings together three distinct patients: Joseph, Clyde, and Leon. Despite their shared core delusion, each man manifests his belief and personality in vastly different ways, presenting a unique challenge and opportunity for Dr. Stone’s study. The doctor secures a dedicated space for his experiment, gaining reluctant approval from skeptical hospital administrators. He begins holding regular group sessions with the three men, observing their interactions, challenging their identical claims, and attempting to build trust in an era where such patient-doctor relationships were uncommon.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Dr. Stone (Richard Gere): An empathetic psychotherapist who pioneers a humane treatment method for delusional patients at a state hospital.
• Joseph (Peter Dinklage): One of the three paranoid schizophrenic patients who believes he is Jesus Christ and speaks with a British accent.
• Clyde (Bradley Whitford): One of the three paranoid schizophrenic patients who believes he is Christ and is plagued by delusions of a foul stench.
• Leon (Walton Goggins): One of the three paranoid schizophrenic patients who believes he is God and is the most perceptive of the trio.
• Dr. Orbus (Kevin Pollak): The skeptical and bureaucratic hospital chief of staff who opposes Dr. Stone’s unconventional experimental therapy.
• Becky (Charlotte Hope): Dr. Stone’s young research assistant who helps with the study and forms connections with the patients.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Joseph: “How can you soar when you have no arms? And to think I was chosen to save you.” – Said by Joseph during a group session, expressing his unique, abstract perspective on their condition and his perceived role.
• Dr. Stone: “Instead of drugs or electroshock… we’re going to try empathy.” – Dr. Stone explains his revolutionary, humane approach to treating the patients, contrasting it with the harsh standard practices of the era.
• Clyde: “I have this stench… I have to wash.” – Clyde repeatedly expresses his persistent delusion of a foul odor, a manifestation of his guilt and trauma that he constantly tries to cleanse.
• Leon: “If we’re all Christ, then none of us are.” – Leon, often the most perceptive of the three, vocalizes the central paradox of the experiment, questioning their individual claims when faced with others sharing the same delusion.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $10,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $36,723
• Worldwide Gross: $36,723

💥 Three Christs Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie really stuck with me, especially the performances by the actors playing the three ‘Christs’. They were incredible, totally believable, and heartbreaking. I found myself genuinely caring about these men and their struggles, which is a testament to the acting and the film’s focus on empathy. It wasn’t always easy to watch, and yeah, some parts felt a bit slow, but the core idea of treating mental illness with dignity felt really powerful. The scenes where all four of them were in the room together were electric – funny, sad, and super awkward sometimes, just like real life. It definitely made me think differently about mental health treatment history.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of character-driven dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in mental health topics and historical treatments”
  • “Audiences who appreciate strong ensemble acting”
  • “Those interested in films based on real-life psychological studies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depiction of mental illness (schizophrenia, delusions)”
  • “Institutional setting and historical psychiatric treatments (electroshock)”
  • “Discussion of trauma and abuse”
  • “Mention/depiction of suicide”

Professional Reviews

• Review Analysis: “Despite a compelling premise based on real events, ‘State of Mind’ struggles with uneven pacing and a script that sometimes feels more like a stage play than a cinematic experience. The performances from the three actors playing the ‘Christs’ are standout, bringing depth and humanity to complex roles, but the overall execution doesn’t always live up to their efforts.
• Review Analysis: “Richard Gere leads a strong cast in this period piece exploring humane approaches to mental health. While the film occasionally drags and some subplots feel underdeveloped, the core interactions between the doctor and his unique patients are genuinely moving and thought-provoking. It’s a film with a big heart, even if its narrative structure is flawed.

Audience Reactions

The standout performances by the three actors playing the Christs captivated viewers.: Many praised the film’s focus on empathy and the humane treatment of mental illness, finding it a moving and thought-provoking watch despite its flaws.

Overall Consensus: A mixed bag praised for strong performances and empathetic themes, but often criticized for uneven pacing and inconsistent execution.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the 1964 book-length psychiatric case study ‘The Three Christs of Ypsilanti’ by social psychologist Milton Rokeach, with the character of Dr. Alan Stone based on Rokeach himself.”
• “Filming took place primarily at Bayley Seton Hospital on Staten Island, New York City, which stood in for the Ypsilanti State Hospital.”
• “Despite being set in 1959, a visible personal computer appears on a desk in one scene, an anachronism for the time period.”
• “The book’s original experiment, while groundbreaking, was later criticized by Rokeach himself for being potentially manipulative and adopting a ‘Godlike’ stance towards his patients.”

🖥️ How to Watch Three Christs?

Looking to watch “Three Christs,” also known as “State of Mind”? This compelling drama is typically available for rent or purchase on major digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming services for current availability on subscription plans.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Three Christs, you might like these similar films:

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975): A seminal film set in a mental institution, exploring themes of individual freedom versus institutional control and challenging conventional treatment methods.
• Awakenings (1990): Based on a true story, this film also features a compassionate doctor using unconventional methods to treat patients with severe neurological or psychiatric conditions, highlighting the human element in medicine.
• Girl, Interrupted (1999): Set in a women’s mental institution in the 1960s, it explores the lives and interactions of patients and staff, capturing the atmosphere and treatment approaches of the era.
• A Beautiful Mind (2001): Chronicles the life of a brilliant mathematician struggling with paranoid schizophrenia, focusing on his delusions and the impact on his life and relationships, similar to the focus on the patients’ internal worlds.
• Harvey (1950): A gentle cult classic about a man with a delusion (an invisible rabbit), exploring themes of reality, acceptance, and the nature of ‘madness’ from a more humanistic and often humorous perspective.

🛒 Three Christs Related Products

• The Three Christs of Ypsilanti (Book): The original, groundbreaking 1964 psychiatric case study by Milton Rokeach that inspired the film. Dive deeper into the actual experiment.
• Three Christs (DVD/Blu-ray): Own the movie on physical media to rewatch the powerful performances and explore the historical setting.
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (DVD/Blu-ray): Often compared to ‘Three Christs’ for its themes of institutional life and the human spirit, this classic film offers a different perspective on mental health institutions.
• Richard Gere Film Collection: Explore other significant roles by the film’s lead actor, Richard Gere, showcasing his diverse career.

🎧 Soundtrack

Three Christs features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Three Christs – Original Motion Picture Score” – performed by Jeff Russo
• “Meet the Christs” – performed by Jeff Russo
• “One Day We’ll Be Free” – performed by Jeff Russo
• “Joseph’s Nightmare” – performed by Jeff Russo
• “Who Are You?” – performed by Jeff Russo
• “Why Did I Choose You?” – performed by Jeff Russo

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

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