The winning documentary Clownvets pairs two groups of sufferers to bring relief to one and healing to the other. First, we meet US military veterans in rural Michigan and learn about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from their personal perspectives, and from their families and their health providers. Then, unexpectedly, the famed hospital clown Patch Adams enters. (Adams was portrayed by Robin Williams in a much reviled movie, but this is the real Patch Adams ). Adams has the idea of teaching the vets how to clown and bringing them to entertain the most severely disabled in the Third World.
The result is remarkable. Somehow Adams is able to introduce clowning to these macho guys, and then he brings them to facilities that warehouse the disabled in Guatemala. The kindest description of these places might be “hell hole”. The plight of the patients/victims is heartbreaking. The vets throw themselves wholeheartedly into brightening these deprived lives with clowning and with hands-on human compassion.
Why does clowning – of all things – seem to treat the veterans’ PTSD? Perhaps it is the fully committed silliness and the absurd costumes – the vulnerability from intentionally looking ridiculous and acting ridiculous. Somehow it seems to refract/distract/heal the effects of PTSD.
I am generally not a fan of warmhearted movies, but Clownvets moved even me. In a running time of little less than an hour, it’s able to pack an emotional punch. I expect Clownvets to be the Feel Good hit of this year’s Cinequest.
Cinequest hosts the world premiere of Clownvets, and Patch Adams himself is expected to attend.