The Aviator is a 2004 epic biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese. The plot is focused on Howard Hughes who suffered from the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and his life as a first American billionaire, pilot, movie director, and businessman. The movie is based on Charles Hingham’s book Howard Hughes: The Secret Life and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes.
Psychological Disorder
The psychological disorder portrayed in the film is the OCD. Howard Hughes, the main character, suffered from it during his life. In Hughes’ lifetime, OCD had not been yet described or studied, so he never had any chance of knowing that his mental disorder is caused by chemical imbalance in his brain. This was further worsened by the fact that the people surrounding Hughes believed his unusual behavior to be caused by his eccentricity and personal peculiarities. Therefore, Hughes’ life got to the point where it looked more like a personal Hell, and nobody around him could help him fight the disease or at least cope with the symptoms.
Symptoms of the OCD in the Movie
There are various symptoms of the OCD that are shown in the movie. While not all of the symptoms caused by the OCD are present in the film, the main character still suffers from a significant number of them. Howard Hughes, as shown in the film, has an extreme fear of contamination, mysophobia, urge to repeat certain rituals until he feels he has done them in the right way, and the need to repeat phrases without any necessity. The symptoms that are presented by the main character are the most common amongst people afflicted by the OCD. Despite Hughes’ success and recognition, he had to live with the disease that only worsened in his late years.
Personal Experience
It is difficult to learn something from a film that presents such a narrow-focused topic. The Aviator is dedicated to describing the OCD as well as to convey the message that even the greatest people suffer from diseases and can be heavily afflicted by them. While learning a lot about how people with the OCD live with this disease, I have also learned much about the OCD itself and its displays. However, the most important lesson that I received from the movie is how one can use sheer willpower to break free from his condition even if just for a brief moment.
Conclusion
OCD is a severe mental disorder that is affecting about 2% of the Earth’s population. Therefore, it is a disease that must be diagnosed and cured as early as possible. The Aviator serves as an example of how such seemingly insignificant affliction can destroy one’s life and affect people surrounding them. Moreover, it shows the viewer how even the lives of personalities like Howard Hughes can be compromised by this particular disease which means that nobody should stay indifferent towards it.