Summary of the Movie
A Beautiful Mind is a biographical movie based on Sylvia Nasar’s A Beautiful Mind. The 2001-released movie was written by Akiva Golssman, produced by Brian Granzer and directed by Ron Howard. It gives a story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who battles paranoid schizophrenia while concentrating on his career. After his undergraduate studies, Nash joins the prestigious Princeton University courtesy of Carnegie Scholarship for mathematics. Here, he meets and establishes a close friendship with his course mates: Martin Hansen, Richard Sol, Charles Herman, Bender and Ainsley. After sharing ideas with his colleagues, he successfully publishes the New Concept of Governing Dynamics. This earns him an appointment at MIT where he is later joined by Bender and Sol.
Later, he decides to relocate to the Pentagon after getting a lucrative assignment under William Parcher, a mysterious supervisor from the United States Department of Defense. Here, he deals in communication gadgets of the Soviet military. However, this job also becomes unpleasant to him when he observes a shootout between the Soviet agents and Percher. This scares him to the extent that he decides to attempt to flee. After this incident, he is forcefully sedated and sent to the psychiatrist because he believes it is operated by the Soviets. It is here, where Dr. Rosen openly tells his wife Alicia that Nash is suffering from schizophrenia. Further, Dr.Rosen explains to Alicia that Nash has been suffering from this disorder and has been having imaginary characters such as Mercee, Charles and Parcher who do not actually exist.
After a successful completion of his insulin shock therapy course, Nash defiantly opts to stop the antipsychotic medication recommended for him. He does this because he is frustrated with hits side effects. This jeopardizes his condition because he immediately starts seeing the imaginary Percher again. As his condition deteriorates, he begins behaving weirdly. For instance, at one time, he knocks Alicia and his infant son on the ground. He mistakenly endangers his family because he believes that he trying to save them from Percher who wants to kill them.
Although such a behavior puts his marriage into a rift, Nash and Alicia remain closer throughout the movie. Alicia is ready to help him battle with his frustrating condition. Later, with the permission of Martin Hansen, the new head of mathematics department, Nash rejoins Princeton University. After several years, Nash progressively recovers and goes back to his teaching position. In 1994, he is wins the prestigious Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics.
Lessons
A Beautiful Mind is a good movie. The lesson from the experiences of Nash demonstrates that Schizophrenia is not a life threatening condition as perceived. Despite suffering from this disorder, Nash still managed to make excellent accomplishments. First, he continued with his job at the prestigious Princeton University. Later, be excelled as a mathematician and received a recognition by his fellow professors. In 1994, he, alongside John Harsanyi and Reinhard Selten, won the Nobel Memorial prize for their exemplary work on game theory. This has really inspired me to know that suffering from Schizophrenia can not bar anyone from realizing their goals. Despite his condition, he could still manage "to make the most important discovery of his career.’ He said.
Besides, the movie has inspired me on the role of attitude, self-confidence and determination in dealing with Schizophrenia. Although many people believe that it can only be treated by medication, Nash proved otherwise. Having realized his problem, he decided to adopt a positive lifestyle. First, he went public about it. Later, he opted to deal with it without using any medication. This is a very good lesson to anyone who wants to understand much about this disorder. Nash proved that battling with it does not necessarily mean a death sentence. However, anyone can deal with it at personal level even without relying on medication. Meanwhile, it is necessary for such a patient to be closely assisted by the family and other close accomplices. When Alicia learnt that her husband was suffering from this condition, she decided to support him. This is quite motivating because it challenges people not to abandon such patients, but to be closer to them. It is the right time to show their concern and care for their loved ones. Had it not been for Alicia, Nash would have succumbed to depression.
Lastly, the movie has made me to understand the role of cooperation in an individual success. Nash himself argues that the only way through which they would increase their chances of success, as mathematicians, it to adopt a cooperative approach. This is evidenced when he fails to come up with a brilliant idea while conducting his studies in a lonely place. Instead, he manages to do this while in the company of his course mates. Meaning, the interest of a group can be easily realized if that of individuals is safeguarded. This is a very good lesson because it sensitizes me on the importance of collaborative approach in resolving matters.
