55 Steps
55 Steps | |
---|---|
Directed by | Bille August |
Written by | Mark Bruce Rosin |
Produced by | Sara Risher Mark Bruce Rosin |
Starring | Helena Bonham Carter Hilary Swank Jeffrey Tambor |
Cinematography | Filip Zumbrunn |
Edited by | Hansjörg Weißbrich |
Music by | Annette Focks |
Release date |
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Countries | Germany Belgium |
Language | English |
55 Steps is a 2017 German-Belgian drama film, directed by Bille August and starring Helena Bonham Carter, Hilary Swank, and Jeffrey Tambor.
The film is based on the true story of Eleanor Riese.[1] The story is about a woman committed to a mental health facility. Prior to 1987 it was assumed that the Lanterman–Petris–Short Act allowed involuntary treatment for those who were detained under an initial three day hold (for evaluation and treatment) and a subsequent fourteen day hospitalization (for those patients declared after the three-day hold to be dangerous to themselves or others or gravely disabled). In 1987 in Riese v. St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center the California State Court of Appeals declared that these patients had the right to exercise informed consent regarding the use of antipsychotic drugs, except in an emergency, and if they rejected medication "a judicial determination of their incapacity to make treatment decisions" was required before they could be involuntarily treated.[2][3] This case was a class action suit brought in the name of patient Eleanor Riese by the California ACLU.[2]
The film was screened in the Gala Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.[4]
Cast
- Helena Bonham Carter as Eleanor Riese
- Hilary Swank as Colette Hughes
- Jeffrey Tambor as Mort Cohen
- Tim Plester as Robbie
- Michael Culkin as Judge Farelly
- Jonathan Kerrigan as Dr. Bardy
References
- ^ "'55 Steps' Based on the True Story of Eleanor Riese". The Mighty. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Involuntary medications: Riese v. St. Mary's Case Summary - Mental Illness Policy Org". Mentalillnesspolicy.org. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ "Riese V. St. Mary'S Hospital Medical Center | Cal. Ct. App. | Judgment | Law". CaseMine. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- ^ Pond, Steve (15 August 2017). "Aaron Sorkin, Brie Larson, Louis CK Movies Added to Toronto Film Festival Lineup". The Wrap. Retrieved 15 August 2017.