Mental health disorder is a general term used to refer to a wide range of mental conditions that affect an individual's mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples of such illnesses include depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, among others. Unlike before, the topic of these illnesses and mental health, in general, are being incorporated in the news, movies, and television programs. The sole purpose of these efforts is to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness and teach the populace on how to take care of people diagnosed with the disease. Movies, especially, have made tremendous efforts to enlighten the public about the same by having characters portray a variety of mental health disorders. Their plots, struggles, and acquisition of help relate to the everyday struggle, which is why such movies play a significant role in passing information. The Aviator is one of those films whose lead character called Howard Hughes and played by Leonardo DiCaprio suffers from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Howard Hughes, as depicted in the movie, was wealthy and talented. His parents died when he was 19 years old, leaving him their entire wealth. As far as his talent is concerned, Howard Hughes built a radio transmitter at the age of 11. When it comes to his living, he was a wealthy man who has several careers. For instance, he built one of the fastest planes, flew it, and also made blockbuster movies. One of the most interesting parts of the movie was Howard Hughes' challenges. The star was as troubled as he was talented while living in his own brilliant yet twisted mind. Due to his Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Howard Hughes was driven by strange and undeniable disorders. For example, he was terrified of germs and filth, and this caused him to withdraw from the public world. Furthermore, Howard Hughes lead a life of paranoia due to the pressures of life as he grew older. In as much as he was undeniably brilliant, he revealed different sides of him to different people; hence it was difficult to evaluate who he really was.
The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by the presence of compulsions, obsessions, or both (Dayan et al., 2017). When it comes to persistent thoughts, the individual may try to suppress them by performing another action. In The Aviator , Howard Hughes was obsessed with cleanliness, and his paranoia of germs led to him alienating himself from the world. He was always depressed, and his obsession led him always to carry his own soap and refuse to drink milk from an already opened bottle. What is surprising was that some of his most astounding achievements, like his blockbuster movies, were made during his isolation. It was during the time that he stayed away from the spotlight that his prominence and fortune multiplied. Therefore, this implies that Howard Hughes was attempting to fight anxiety and distress by advancing his career.
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Individuals diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder also exhibit repetitive behaviors such as hand washing or ordering (Robbins et al., 2019). At times, such repetition may be visible through mental acts such as praying, repeating words, and counting. When portraying such behaviors, the particular individual feels compelled to respond to such an obsession, based on rigid rules that only they can comprehend and follow. Although such behaviors may be mild at first, they grow over time and mostly aim at preventing a grave situation. Nevertheless, these behaviors are not remotely connected to the situation that they are supposed to cover, which is why they are always noticed. For example, an individual may be stressed due to an interview, and they start cracking their knuckles. The act is supposed to help them cover the stress and calm down, but it ends up being loud and excessive, which not only attracts attention but also shows the person's stress. The movie did a perfect portrayal of the transition of repetitive behavior. Howard Hughes started with an obsession with cleanliness, which led to him buying and always carrying his own soap. Eventually, he washed his hands repeatedly until they started bleeding towards the end of the film.
The Aviator's director Martin Scorsese did an excellent job in portraying Howard Hughes. As one would have expected, the character would show a series of unpredictability, based on the nature of his condition. Not Howard Hughes. At first, the movie showed his realistically rich life and talents, where the sky was the limit for the young, determined soul. In his adulthood, Howard Hughes excelled in multiple careers, in that if he lost interest in one field, he would jump right into another and succeed. Just when he thought his life could not get any better, that is when the illness was revealed. The director's view resonates with what most individuals with mental illnesses. At times, the disease comes when least expected, when one is having the best time of their lives or at the peak of their careers.
Martin Scorsese also took the viewer on a journey of how the disease was taking a toll on Hughes. At first, it was an obsession with germs, which led him to lead a life of isolation. The obsession came at a time where Hughes had just quit his playboy lifestyle and was getting in a more serious and committed relationship with a renowned actress, Katharine Hepburn. Although the two had the kind of connection and chemistry that would bind them for life, Howard Hughes' newfound obsession made them drift apart, and eventually call it quits. The depiction was a clear indication of what mental illness does to a person. The disease uproots their life and takes them to a world of isolation. Martin Scorsese then addressed one of the most critical aspects of mental health, the progression of a mental disease unless professional help is sought. Howard Hughes took his obsession further by carrying his own soap and washing his hands until they bled as noted above. In the same way, he was repetitive of his words, where his favorite line was, “I'm not a paranoid deranged millionaire. Goddamnit, I'm a billionaire” (Scorsese et al., 2004). This shows the extent to which the disease can destroy someone if left untreated.
According to researchers, OCD can get to a point where the sufferer can have physical problems or suicidal thoughts if left untreated (Robbins et al., 2019). At the time when the disease was at its peak, Howard Hughes had some bizarre tendencies. To begin with, he did not bathe but preferred rubbing alcohol on himself. Additionally, he avoided the toilet by using jars, which he kept in the closet. However, despite his dislike for germs, he never got his suit cleaned. Even though the movie was excellent in telling a story about a man with OCD, it also had some major flaws. The ending was abrupt, which did not show Howard Hughes' end times. As elaborate as the film was in Howard Hughes' life starting from childhood, one would have expected the same at his demise. The Aviator had its ending in 1947, approximately thirty years before the real Hughes died. For this reason, the director left out some of the crucial closures for the viewer.
The Aviator was impactful in that it portrays the growth and development of OCD in a person. The director, through Howard Hughes, took us on a journey of OCD elaborating on the behaviors and symptoms along the way. Instead of blatantly explaining the symptoms through narration, the director manifested them in a character. The realistic expression is in line with what the majority of individuals expect today. Such realism is beneficial in taking out the shame associated with mental illnesses, especially OCD. Hughes, with all the prominence, talent, and fame, was utterly transformed by the disease, and this broadened my perspective about OCD. Beforehand, I associated the disease to low-class individuals who are stressed about things like having multiple jobs and making ends meet. However, the film, combined with the knowledge about the disease, helped me understand the complexities of the disease. From the moment Howard Hughes started showing the first signs to the end where the extreme behaviors were seen, the director did a fantastic job. His only flaw was ending the film without getting into details about the fateful ending of Hughes. The movie may help determine the symptoms as well as their development, which could lead to a better diagnosis of the same. However, unless one has access to more information about taking care of OCD patients, they are going to have a hard time since the film completely omits that part. The movie took too much time expounding on details about Hughes' behavior without offering a concrete solution about giving care. From a parents' perspective, the movie was educative. As the plot revolved around the young Hughes, it enlightened them on some important aspects such as the characteristics and behaviors. Consequently, they can weigh that against symptoms that they may observe in their children. Overall, the movie was educative and inspirational. It gave hope to many individuals that OCD can attack anyone regardless of affluence or social status, and that the symptoms are also the same. When it comes to mental illnesses, behaviors are the most useful cues that one can use to detect a malady. From that point of view, The Aviator was insightful.
References
Dayan, A., Berger, A., & Anholt, G. E. (2017). Enhanced Action Tendencies in Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder: An ERP Study. Behavior Research and Therapy , 93 , 13-21.
Mann, M. (Producer), & Logan, J. (Writer), & Scorsese, M. (Director). (2004). The Aviator [Film]. IMF.
Robbins, T. W., Vaghi, M. M., & Banca, P. (2019). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Puzzles and Prospects. Neuron , 102 (1), 27-47.
