K-PAX
US, 2001, 120 minutes, Colour.
Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary Mc Cormack, Alfre Woodard, David Patrick Kelly, Saul Williams, Peter Gerety, Celia Weston, AJ Naidu, Conchata Ferrell Vincent Laresca.
Directed by Iain Softley.
K-PAX is a psychological drama with overtones of alien visits and other planets. It is a tour de force for Kevin Spacey as Prot, a man who is found in a busy railway station, accused of begging and taken in by the police where he bewilders them with his strange answers to interrogation, claiming to be a visitor from another planet.
It is not surprising that he is then referred to a psychiatric institution – where his engaging personality makes contact with quite a wide range of inmates, including David Patrick Kelly and Celia Weston. He is supported by one of the staff, Conchata Ferrell, but is considered with great suspicion by the doctor, Alfre Woodard.
Prot also astounds physicists with his scientific knowledge.
He is eventually referred to a specialist, played by Jeff Bridges, who uses the techniques of sympathy to elicit responses from the patient. Prot is quite persuasive with the inmates, even promising to take them to the planet if they write an essay about why they would like to go – something which they enthusiastically subscribe to.
However, the specialist is more concerned and gets his staff to try to track down Prot’s identity and where he came from. He finds the location, find Prot’s identity and that he worked in an abattoir, and experienced trauma in the death of his wife which had the devastating psychological effects on him.
Meanwhile at the institution, the competition for travelling with Prot is over, he alleges that he has to go on travels – but, is finally seen sedated in something of a catatonic state, still with a smile of happiness.
There is a subplot about the psychiatrist, tensions with his wife and his son being alienated – but being reunited with his father at the end.
The film was directed by British director, Ian Softley, who made such films as Backbeat, Hackers, Skeleton Key, Inkheart and Wings of the Dove.
1. A psychological drama? Exploring themes of aliens? Different consciousnesses? Trauma and schizophrenia?
2. The theme of aliens, the screenplay opening up possibilities, what if…? Descriptions of alien cultures, comparisons with human culture, the critique of human culture?
3. The variety of clues, the possibilities and impossibilities? The screenplay highlighting contradictions?
4. The introduction, Prot, the railway station, the aura of light, the beggar, the robbery, the police, their reactions, And his being agreeable, going to the station, interrogations?
5. Props story, K-PAX, the description of light travel, instant in time, the information about himself, the planet, his variety of visits, learning, liking humans, loving fruit, the bananas? The tests, his going to the institution, the month passing?
6. Prot and the staff, Dr Vilars and her harshness, Betty Mc Allister and her friendship? The variety of inmates, their behaviour, the effect on Prot? The issue of smelling or not? Bess and her silence? Doris Archer and her being haughty? Howie and his earnestness? Ernie and the mask? In himself?
7. The introduction to Mark, his work, his abilities, the secretary and help, the request about Prot? Dealing with people, his professional manner, treatment? The discussions, the interview, listening to Prot, his responses, being agreeable, playing along?
8. Mark, at home, tired, his wife talking with him, his preoccupation and not listening? Rachel, the girls, Michael and the tension? Friends, the meal, the celebration of 4th July, easy, Prot and his presence, the swing, with the daughter? The hose and the calm?
9. Steve, consultation, physicists, the diagrams, Prot and his ease, his comment about common knowledge?
10. The sessions, the revelations, the experiences, calm and peace? With each of the inmates, the promise to travel, their being transformed, Doris, sense of smell, their having to write essays, Prot’s disappearance and his alleged visit to the North? Dr Vilars and her severe reaction?
11. Prot’s saying that had to leave, giving the date? Mark, the assistant, the research? Trying to find time and place? The hypnosis experience, the date?
12. Mike discovering the location, the identity, the story of the wife and daughter, the records, his visit, the police and the information, the photostory? The flashbacks and the trauma of the death?
13. Prot, the farewell, genuine? The reaction of the inmates, then not travelling – but their being transformed?
14. The authorities, upset, Mark and his reaction? Prot and his collapse, catatonic, the report – and his talking?
15. The background of Mark and his son, the alienation, the visit at the station, the reconciliation?
16. Prot and his traumatic experience, his life at the abattoir, his wife and death? Living inside himself – but the possibility of being open to worlds beyond? His life as a mission?
