Boundary Between Reality and Unreality: Narratives of Schizophrenic Experience and Delusion in the Film <BEAU IS AFRAID> (Ari Aster, 2023)

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder marked by hallucinations, delusions, and cognitive impairments. This study examines how Beau Is Afraid (2023, Ari Aster) cinematically represent the blurred boundary between reality and delusion, immersing audiences in the protagonist Beau’s psychological turmoil. Through narrative and mise-en-scène, the film visualizes the stigma and sensory confusion associated with schizophrenia. First, the film employs first-person perspective, distorted lenses, and handheld camera work to depict Beau’s fragmented perception. The non-linear narrative, exaggerated dystopia settings, and repetitive horror elements reinforce his psychological breakdown and sensory overload, illustrating the schizophrenic experience. Second, surreal imagery and symbolic spaces—such as the chaotic city, his mother’s mansion, the theatrical world in the forest, the phallic statue, and the courtroom—reflect Beau’s paranoia and internal struggles. These elements merge reality and delusion, offering insight into the schizophrenic mind. Third, the film explores schizophrenia’s social and familial context. Beau’s oppressive relationship with his mother, Mona, incorporates Freudian Oedipal themes and gaslighting, suggesting that his mental distress stems from his upbringing. His anxiety and dependency mirror Mona’s controlling nature, demonstrating how schizophrenia is shaped by family and societal structures.

This study highlights how Beau Is Afraid presents a unique cinematic approach to schizophrenia, fostering empathy and reshaping perceptions of mental illness. By translating psychopathology into film, it contributes to a deeper understanding of schizophrenia’s social and psychological dimensions.