Jack Nicholson delivers a towering performance in Milos Forman's unflinching portrayal of a psychiatric hospital.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is no comedy, and was never intended as satire. Milos Forman has stated that he simply wanted to tell the story of a person placed in a mental institution, and life on that institution. But the film worked satirically. It is based on Ken Kesey's novel, which became a cult book in the 1960s for all those who felt like outcasts, or did not want to fit into established society. In the film the book's caricatured way of depicting the hospital staff was toned down, which was probably entirely necessary to make it work as a film. The result was a realistic portrayal that is just as disturbing as it is funny. And far from as banal as such a story could have become.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director.
Film info
Running time: 2h 14min
Produced: USA
Original title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Director: Milos Forman
Audio: English
Subtitles: Norwegian
Age rating: 15 years
Screening format: 35mm
