Watch God Knows Where I Am
- NR
- 2016
- 1 hr 37 min
-
7.3 (913)
God Knows Where I Am is an immersive and haunting documentary that takes us on a journey into the mind of a woman named Linda Bishop. Linda was a fiercely independent and vibrant woman who suffered from bipolar disorder. Despite her struggles, she lived a full life with a successful career as a teacher and a loving family. However, this all came to an end in the spring of 2008 when Linda's mind began to unravel, and she became fixated on living off the land.
One day, she entered an empty farmhouse in New Hampshire and decided to take up residence. The only problem was that the house was not hers, and she had no legal right to be there. Despite this, Linda refused to leave and stayed in the house for four months, living off rainwater from a barrel and apples from a nearby orchard. As time went on, her mental state deteriorated, and she began to believe that God was speaking to her through the pages of a Bible she found in the home.
The movie combines interviews with people who knew Linda, dramatic reenactments, and stunning cinematography to tell her story. Through Linda's diary entries, we get an intimate look at her state of mind and the delusions she was experiencing. The film also gives us a window into the healthcare system in the United States and how it can fail those who suffer from mental illness.
One of the striking things about the movie is the way it captures the isolation and loneliness that Linda felt during her time in the house. The abandoned farmhouse is set amidst a beautiful landscape, but the starkness of the surroundings only underscores Linda's solitude. As she writes in her diary, "I can hear voices, far in the distance, but they don't seem to come from any direction. They seem to be all around me, but not from me."
The movie also draws attention to the issue of homeless individuals suffering from mental illness. Linda was a woman who had a family and a support system, but she still fell through the cracks in the system. The film calls into question our societal responsibility towards those who are struggling with mental health issues and are unable to care for themselves.
Throughout the documentary, we hear from Linda's sister, son, and others who were involved in her life. They all express their love for Linda and their sadness at the way her journey ended. The filmmakers do an excellent job of humanizing Linda and showing her as a person who was much more than her mental illness.
The movie also examines the way society views mental illness and how it can stigmatize those who suffer from it. Linda's story is a testament to the fact that mental illness does not discriminate, and it can affect anyone at any time. The film encourages viewers to become more informed about mental health issues and work towards ending the stigma surrounding them.
Overall, God Knows Where I Am is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that raises important questions about mental illness and our responsibility towards those who suffer from it. The film is a tribute to Linda's life and her struggles, and it is a testament to the love and compassion that those around her had for her. It is a must-see for anyone interested in mental health issues, healthcare policy, or humanizing those who live with mental illness.
God Knows Where I Am is a 2016 mystery with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 66.