The Man Whose Mind Exploded

2014
6.7| 1h17m| en
Details

In this "beautifully intimate and utterly unique piece of cinema", Toby Amies crosses the line between filmmaker and carer, trying to cope with the strange and hilarious world view of the fragile eccentric, Drako Zarharzar. A love story. Drako Oho Zaraharzar can remember modeling for Salvador Dali and hanging out with The Stones. But he can’t remember yesterday. Following a severe head injury, Drako Zaraharzar suffers from terrible memory loss, he can access memories from before his accident, but can’t imprint new ones. As he puts it, “the recording machine in my head doesn’t work”. Consequently, and as an antidote to depression he chose to live “completely in the now” according to the bizarre mottoes delivered to him whilst in a coma.

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Reviews

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film
ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre
Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
newsnjdw Sometimes in life you are introduced to an individual who once seen, leaves a wonderful, lasting impression on you by the sheer complexity of their character and personality. Drako is one such character. He is the opposite of what most people would aspire to be and yet we are fascinated to view him rambling through his life constantly repeating and recording his thoughts and limited memories. Most times oblivious to all around him. Through his dedication and compassion for Drako, Toby Amies has created a loving visual memoir of a man like no other. I believe that in time and with wider exposure this documentary will come to be revered as a milestone in documenting mental health issues and the complexities of love
tobelievewithoutseeing This documentary brings you into the life of Drako Oho Zarhazar and brings Drako directly into your heart. Sometimes in life you find characters that change your perspective and inspire pure love and faith, this is one such character and this film is just a snippet of his full and free life. Filmed over 4 years in and around his home, this documentary allows the viewer into Drako's most personal space and gives them a very real and very raw look at some of his most personal and trying medical conditions, one of which is a type of amnesia that doesn't allow him to record new memories. Watching this film one can't help but to truly care for Drako, laughing with him when he laughs and feeling the fear and frustration that his family and friends feel when he does what he has always done and just disappears only to return with no memory of where he's been. Drako leaves us with a message that may become your mantra, "Trust. Absolute. Unconditional." "Life has it's own validity, but you must make an effort."
Dominic Pillai I loved this film, it is an extremely touching and funny piece of work.I related strongly with the relationship between Drako and the filmmaker Toby Amies. I am also a filmmaker that works closely with adults with a variety of disabilities, including people with short term memory loss due to a coma, same as Drako. It would have been easy for someone to make an exploitative film with this subject matter, but here it is certainly not the case. Toby Amies has made a genuinely humane, affectionate and original piece of work. A film as good as this deserves a larger cinematic release.
debbiejclare I can't recommend it highly enough. From the arresting opening scene to the very end there's not a moment where you're not utterly captivated. It deals with mental health issues in a sensitive yet funny way, and shines a light on sexual desire in a way I haven't seen before on film. Be prepared for lots of cocks and nipples, presented in the funniest yet moving way. Wonderful shots of Brighton, great interviews with friends, family and neighbours, and as always, exceptional direction from the legend that is Toby Amies. "Trust. Absolute. Unconditional." Pick this film, see something incredibly real. Watching it just the once probably won't be enough.