Mad Dance is a collection of provocative and beautiful short films that re-envision the way we think, speak and feel
about mental distress and wellness in today's chaotic world. These transformative films offer new maps for navigating
madness with insight, healing and hope. The trilogy includes the following films:
Crooked Beauty is an internationally acclaimed poetic documentary that chronicles artist-activist Jacks McNamara's
transformative journey from psych ward inpatient to pioneering mental health advocacy. It is an intimate portrait of an
intense personal quest to live with courage and dignity, and a powerful critique of standard psychiatric treatments.
Poignant testimonials connect the fissures and fault lines of human nature to the unstable topography and mercurial
weather patterns of the San Francisco Bay Area.
In Light, In! is a haunting, visual essay about the awkward and angry junctures where our culture struggles to manage
its emotional distress. Images recycled from 1950's-era educational films are set to original compositions by world-
renowned cellist, Zoe Keating.
For Shadows is a contemplative, multi-layered memoir that explores the process of coming to terms with one's shadow
while unraveling the tangled roots of self-harm. The home movies of a child's formative years and an interior landscape
of traumatic domestic memories are excavated and re-constructed alongside sound clips from archival mental hygiene
films. Original music by cellist Zoe Keating and Terry Riley & the Grand Valley State New Music Ensemble.
WHAT FILM & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE SAYING
"At once extremely personal and yet exquisitely accessible, the Mad Dance Mental Health Film Trilogy is that rare
cinematic feat that combines ineffably compelling artistry, poetics, and visual beauty with compassion, daring, and a
heartfelt sense of purpose - all in the service of shining light upon deep (and dark) psychological truths." - Alan Berliner, Filmmaker, The Family Album and First Cousin Once Removed
"A soulful and thought-provoking springboard for discussions, challenging students to creatively expand their understanding of the complex messages about mental health in today's society." - Paige Greason, PhD, Clinical Director, Counseling Services, University of North Carolina
"The Mad Dance Trilogy captures the intensity of human suffering, enlightening the pain of madness that is often cast to the shadows, and takes us through a journey of profoundly moving images that show the power and resiliency of the human spirit." - Dina Tyler, Coordinator of Peer and Family Support Services, PREP Alameda County
"A must-see experience for anyone entrusted to provide mental health care to other people and all who care about relieving mental anguish and distress." - Joe Behen, PhD, Director, Counseling, Health & Disability Services, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
"The Mad Dance Trilogy resonates with our sense of human dignity. These films gently disarm the innocent and guarded, and clear a compassionate exit path from stigma. I use Crooked Beauty in educational presentations, and if you have seen it, you know Mr. Rosenthal's brilliance and spirit of hope." - Jacek/Jack A. Haciak, Psy.D., Consultant, Activist
"Mesmerizing works of art with the transformative powers of a great poem." - Robert Whitaker, Author, Mad in America and Anatomy of an Epidemic
Awards: Grand Prize Best Documentary Short, US Super 8 Film & Digital Video Festival; First Place International Documentary Short, FICSAM Mental Health International Film Festival; Best of Fest, Human Dignity Film Festival; Silver Chris Award, Columbus International Film+Video Festival; Best Documentary Short, Mendocino Film Festival; Best First Person Narrative, Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival; Best Documentary Short, Picture This International Disability Film Festival; Second Prize Documentary Short, Athens International Film & Video Festival; Award of Merit, Superfest International Disability Film Festival; Best Short Spirit Award, Artivist Film Festival; First Prize, Art With Impact Mental Health Film Competition
Ken Paul Rosenthal is an independent filmmaker and educator. His documentary films explore the geography of madness through the regenerative power of nature, urban landscapes, home movies, and archival footage from social hygiene films. Proclaimed as the, "Steven Spielberg of mental health films," by National Empowerment Center Director, Oryx Cohen, his films are visually sensual, emotionally intelligent works of art that also function as tools for personal and societal transformation. Mad Dance: A Mental Health Film Trilogy, has collectively won 19 awards, screened at 73 film festivals, and been presented in person at hundreds of universities, mental health symposia, peer support networks, and community events worldwide. www.kenpaulrosenthal.com
