Let There Be Light

With the unsuccessful cases left on the cutting-room floor, this film suggests that one quick session can cure PTSD. Still, I guess this is as honest as a forties US military documentary gets!

remarkable and fascinating. a lot of the methodology in it is obviously outdated, and, uh, terrible, but the awareness of mental illness and PTSD in the immediate aftermath of one of the greatest atrocities in human history makes this a fascinating time capsule, to say the least

In many ways primitive compared to more modern documentaries, and it's sometimes hard to believe this was not staged at any point. But that's mostly just age catching up to it, and not an indictment of its content, which is excellent. Plainly and powerfully depicts the troubles these men have dealing with mental trauma brought on by their experiences in the war. Suppressed by the military for almost forty years for that same reason.

War is hell, and psychiatry is a potentially power force for good. To me, this is very much a case of propoganda getting in the way of a profound documentary. I appreciate that the whole point of the public service message here is not to pity these men, but I can't help but feel sorry for them.

Watching those therapy sessions was like watching Paul McKenna, except this was serious business. A very noble and tactful documentary about stress related suffering many soldiers experience during war. Does a good job of educating people that mental health isn't something to be ashamed of. Respect for what they did here.

Excelente documento histórico sobre neuroses de guerra, até passa pela nossa cabeça dos médicos estarem sendo anti-éticos por permitirem a gravação das sessões, mas isso é tão bom e só veio à público 40 anos depois de gravado que até damos um desconto. Box Versátil O Cinema de John Huston.

It's fascinating to see how back then, there was a lot of sympathy towards these shell-shocked soldiers, and empathy from the doctors and nurses. As the narrator says from the man who cannot walk anymore: "it may be psychological, but it's as real as a spinal lesion". The methodology to help is obviously crude and outdated. I guess the rest is slightly staged and embellished. For many of them, it probably took years to get back to 'normal'. May sound normative sometimes.

Makes you wonder how well they fared once returning to the stresses of daily life.

The film's best moments come early. First there is narration scrolling over empty naval walls, ruminating on the conclusion of the worst conflict the world has ever known, and that its end spells new problems for the men returning home. Then there are a series of interviews with PTSD patients about their problems, and my god. It's absolutely crushing stuff. It's an absolute treasure that we have a record of this; it makes the tragedy of WW2 staggeringly resonant for the contemporary viewer.

Heartbreaking and uplifting. Not really much to say. It provides interesting insights and feels very genuine, but it stays too superficial to have the impact it could.

This doesn't idealize anything, not the war, the soldier, or the doctor. It is not presented as a simple matter or a humane or inhumane situation.