Jasminka Letzas sent a query to the Visible Evidence listserv on 10/19/2025, asking for recommendations on documentary media that explore themes of mental health, wellbeing, forms of therapy, and institutionalisation. This list is the responses to her query. Suggestions for VR works are at the bottom of the list. 

Suggested Documentary Films: 

Allan King, dir. 2005. Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company. Documentary. 112 minutes.

Amanda Ravetz and Huw Wahl, dirs. 2017. My Recoverist Family. Documentary. 40 minutes.

Andrey Paounov, dir. 2004. Georgi and the Butterflies. Documentary. 60 minutes.

Anna Hints, dir. 2023. Smoke Sauna Sisterhood. Documentary. 89 minutes.

Anushka Shivdasani Rovshen and Madhuri Mohindar, dirs. 2018. Breathe. Documentary. The Public Service Broadcasting Trust. 24 minutes.

Aparna Sanyal, dir. 2011. A Drop of Sunshine. Documentary. The Public Service Broadcasting Trust. 40 minutes.

Ariella Pahlke, dir. 2014. Strategies of Hope. Documentary. 27 minutes.

Aybüke Avcı, dir. 2024. Domates Biber Depresyon (Tomato, Pepper, Depression). Documentary. 68 minutes. 68 minutes.

Aysegül Selenga Taskent, dir. 2008. Volga Volga. Documentary. 60 minutes.

Bernardo Bertolucci, Franco Arcalli, Giuseppe Bertolucci, et al., dirs. 1971. La salute è malata / I poveri muoiono prima. Documentary. Archivio Audiovisivo del Movimento Operaio e Democratico. La salute è malata (33 minutes) / I poveri muoiono prima (39 minutes).

Betty Yu, dir. 2016. Three Tours. Documentary. TWN. 50 minutes.

Camille Billops and James Hatch, dirs. 1982. Suzanne, Suzanne. Documentary. TWN. 30 minutes.

Carles Bosch, dir. 2010. Bicicleta, cullera, poma / Bicicleta, cuchara, manzana (Bicycle, Spoon, Apple). Documentary. 110 minutes.

Dušan Makavejev, dir. 1971. W.R.: Mysteries of the Organism. Documentary. 84 minutes.

Elena Guzman, dir. 2023. Smile4Kime. Documentary. Black Public Media. 26 minutes.

Fernand Deligny, Josée Manenti, and Jean-Pierre Daniel, dirs. 1971. Le Moindre Geste. Documentary. 105 minutes.

Fırat Yücel, dir. 2025. Happiness. Documentary. 18 minutes.

Frederick Wiseman, dir. 1967. Titicut Follies. Documentary. Grove Press. 84 minutes.

Genevieve Bailey, dir. 2018. Happy Sad Man. Documentary. Proud Mother Pictures. 89 minutes.

G. Chesler, dir. 2024. Connection Isolation. Documentary. New Day Films. 85 min + 67 min + 7 part series.

Ione Hernández, dir. 2007. Uno por ciento, esquizofrenia. Documentary. Cameo Media. 75 minutes.

Iram Ghufram, dir. 2018. Bulbule. Documentary. 52 minutes.

Jaime Chávarri, dir. 1976. El desencanto. Documentary. 97 minutes.

Jairus McLeary, dir. 2017. The Work. Documentary. The Orchard Topic. 89 minutes.

John Huston, dir. 1946. Let There Be Light. Documentary. 58 minutes.

Jon Shenk and Bonni Cohen, dirs. 2024. In Waves and War. Documentary. Netflix. 108 minutes.

Jonah Hill, dir. 2022. Stutz. Documentary. Netflix. 96 minutes.

Jonathan Caouette, dir. 2003. Tarnation. Documentary. Hope Runs High Films. 88 minutes.

Jules Rosskam, dir. 2018. Paternal Rites. Documentary. 84 minutes.

Juliet Lamont, dir. 2009. The Snowman. Documentary. Antidote Films. 79 minutes.

Katerina Cizek, dir. 2008. Drawing from Life. Documentary. NFB. 30 minutes.

Kenneth Paul Rosenberg, dir. 2019. Bedlam. Documentary. Roco Films. 86 minutes.

Lana Wilson, dir. 2017. The Departure. Documentary. Dogwoof and Matson Films. 87 minutes.

Laurent Bécue-Renard, dir. 2014. Of Men and War. Documentary. Alice Films and Why Not Productions. 142 minutes.

Leon Hirszman, dir. 1987. Imagens do Inconsciente. Documentary. 205 minutes.

Luke Fowler, dir. 2011. All Divided Selves. Documentary. 93 minutes.

Luke Fowler, dir. 2001. What You See Is Where You’re At. Documentary. 24 minutes.

Maite Alberdi, dir. 2020. El agente topo (The Mole Agent). Documentary. Gravitas Ventures. 84 minutes.

Manthia Diawara, dir. 2023. AI: African Intelligence. Documentary. TWN. 110 minutes.

Mario Ruspoli, dir. 1962. Regard sur la folie. Documentary. Argos Films. 53 minutes.

Melissa Saucedo Gonzalez, dir. 2015. Before David. Documentary. TWN. 20 minutes.

Mia Donovan, dir. 2020. Dope Is Death. Documentary. Cinema Politica. 82 minutes.

Michael Gitlin, dir. 2015. That Which Is Possible. Documentary. 83 minutes.

Moris Freiburghaus, dir. 2025. I love you, I leave you. Documentary. 93 minutes.

Nance Ackerman, Ariella Pahlke, and Teresa MacInnes, dirs. 2019. Conviction. Documentary. NFB. 77 minutes.

Neil Berkeley, dir. 2024. Group Therapy. Documentary. 86 minutes.

Nicolas Philibert, dir. 1996. La moindre des choses (Every Little Thing). Documentary. 105 minutes.

Nicolas Philibert, dir. 2023. On the Adamant. Documentary. Les Films du Losange. 109 minutes.

Nurbanu Asena, dir. 2016. Görünmez Duvarlarım (Invisible Walls). Documentary. Vimeo. 8 minutes.

Paula Durinová, dir. 2025. Action Item. Documentary. 69 minutes.

Paula Heredia, dir. 2023. Imelda Is Not Alone. Documentary. TWN. 21 minutes.

Perrine Michel, dir. 2014. Lame de fond. Documentary. Les Alchimistes Films. 57 minutes.

Peter Robinson, dir. 1972. Asylum. Documentary. 95 minutes.

Renaud Victor, dir. 1976. Ce Gamin-Là. 88 minutes.

Scott Kirschenbaum, dir. 2010. You’re Looking at Me Like I Live Here and I Don’t. Documentary. PBS. 79 minutes.

Sophie Ristelhueber and Raymond Depardon, dirs. 2025. San Clemente. Documentary. Les Films du Losange. 100 minutes.

Thierry Knauff and Olivier Smolders, dirs. 1989. Seuls (Alone). Documentary. 12 minutes.

Tran T. Kim-Trang, dir. 1998. Ekleipsis. Documentary. 22 minutes.

Wang Bing, dir. 2009. Man with No Name. Documentary. 92 minutes.

Wang Bing, dir. 2013. ’Til Madness Do Us Part. Documentary. Icarus Films. 228 minutes.

Suggested VR Works: 

The VR Nonfiction Mediography project: a project that offers a feel for early engagement with these themes in titles released between 2012-2018 on the virtual reality platform

Anagram’s Goliath: Playing with Reality (2021) and  Impulse: Playing with Reality (2024)

Sarah Ticho’s Soul Paint (2024)

Kalina Bertin’s Manic VR (2018)

Harun Farocki’s Serious Games III (2009): an installation film that interrogates the use of VR in the treatment of PTSD by the US military

Resources for Filmmakers: 

Film in Mind, an organisation focused on providing therapeutic support to filmmakers – especially documentary filmmakers.

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