Watch Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Larry Wild Man Fischer

Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Larry Wildman Fischer is a 2005 documentary that delves into the life, music, and mental illness of Larry "Wildman" Fischer, an outsider musician and songwriter beloved by Frank Zappa and many other musicians, but who spent most of his life struggling with manic depression, schizophrenia, and homelessness.

Directed by Josh Rubin, the film showcases Fischer's life from his early years as a shy kid with a talent for singing and a love for pop music, to his brief brush with fame in the late 1960s when he was discovered by Zappa and recorded his first album, An Evening with Wild Man Fischer, which included his hit song "Merry-Go-Round."

The movie features interviews with Fischer's family, friends, collaborators, and fans, as well as rare footage of his performances, some of which are disturbing, bizarre, or hilarious, depending on one's sense of humor and empathy. The documentary also includes animations, reenactments, and archival footage that give context to Fischer's life and times, including the countercultural movements, the mental health system, and the music industry.

The main focus of the film, however, is on Fischer's personal struggles with his mental illness and its treatment, which ranged from electroshock therapy, hospitalization, medication, and therapy, to self-medication, isolation, and self-harm. The movie depicts Fischer as an eccentric, childlike, and vulnerable person who had a hard time coping with the demands of society, the music industry, and his own condition, which made him prone to delusions, hallucinations, outbursts, and erratic behavior.

One of the strengths of the film is its ability to balance the tragic and comic aspects of Fischer's life and personality, without exploiting or romanticizing them. The movie acknowledges the pain, anxiety, and loneliness that Fischer experienced, as well as the joy, creativity, and passion that he expressed through his music, which was often raw, spontaneous, and idiosyncratic.

Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Larry Wildman Fischer is not only a portrait of a troubled artist, but also a meditation on the nature of creativity, mental illness, fame, and authenticity. The movie raises questions about the role of art in society, the meaning of success, the ethics of exploitation, and the value of eccentricity. It also celebrates the power of music to connect people, heal wounds, and express emotions that words cannot.

Overall, Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Larry Wildman Fischer is a compelling, poignant, and insightful documentary that sheds light on a neglected figure in music history and humanizes the stigma of mental illness. Whether one is a fan of Fischer's music or not, the movie offers a unique glimpse into the mind of a man whose life was both a tragedy and a triumph.

Derailroaded: Inside The Mind Of Larry Wild Man Fischer is a 2005 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes.