Parents' Guide to

Three Christs

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Mature, touching psychiatric drama shows power of empathy.

Movie R 2019 117 minutes
Three Christs Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Based on the actual account of a 1959 psychiatric study, THREE CHRISTS is about (fictional) psychiatrist Dr. Alan Stone (Richard Gere), who believes that the traditional methods of institutional care are inhumane. After he discovers that there are three patients in Michigan mental health facilities who have paranoid schizophrenia and believe that they're Jesus Christ, Stone brings them together to test whether treating them with empathy and understanding will break their delusion.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Using the detailed notes and verbatim dialogue from the actual experiment this film is based on, writer-director Jon Avnet creates a drama about psychology that's more interesting than entertaining. His attention to detail is admirable, but it's too much. Side events and backstories pop up throughout, with bomb-dropping character reveals that are never mentioned again or seen to carry any relevance.

Dead ends aside, Three Christs is a touching drama that presents a fascinating exploration of psychology, medical ethics, and identity. For families looking for thoughtful conversation, you could go all day finding pockets of conversation starters embedded in the film. The most meaningful may be how people without mental illness interact with those who are going through something that feels unknown and/or frightening. Much like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Three Christs successfully depicts the powerlessness of mid-century patients with mental illness in state facilities. However, Avnet falls short of sufficiently relaying one of the film's core truths: the loneliness that accompanies living in your own world. Three Christs leaves darts all over the target, but it hits the bull's-eye by giving audiences a moving story about how, when we feel empathy, we become better people.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about mental illness and how those with psychiatric problems should be treated. What's different in the way we treat mental illness now compared to the era shown in Three Christs? To find out more, check the website for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

  • How does Dr. Stone treat the "three Christs" with empathy and humanity? How does he demonstrate compassion? What's the difference between the two?

  • A recurring theme in the movie is respecting and pushing boundaries. What did you see or hear in the film that you thought was over the line? What wouldn't be acceptable today?

  • How is Dr. Stone driven by curiosity and perseverance? Why are those traits crucial for research?

  • How accurate do you think the movie is to the events that actually took place? Why might filmmakers change the facts in a film that's based on real life?

Movie Details

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