John's Not Mad

"John's Not Mad" was a "QED" documentary made by the BBC in 1989. It was ranked, in a British public poll, as one of 50 Greatest Documentaries. [Channel Four Television Corporation, "The 50 Greatest Documentaries," October 2005.]

The film shadowed John Davidson, a fifteen year old from Galashiels in Scotland, who had severe Tourette syndrome. John's life was explored in terms of his family and the close-knit community around him, and how they all coped with a misunderstood condition. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist, offers observations on aspects of John's behaviour.

The documentary achieved a cult status soon after it was first aired and, contrary to the "possible good intentions of the film crew, it has been seen as some sort of comedy classic". [cite web| url=http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=10423| title=John's Not Mad| date=2004-02-09| publisher=DVD Times| accessdate=2007-06-20]

"John's Not Mad" has been released on DVD including footage from John in the 2002 "The Boy Can't Help It". John is also featured with Keith Allen in a Channel 4 documentary entitled "Tourette De France" where he travelled with Keith and a group of Scottish persons with Tourette syndrome to Paris to visit the hospital where Georges Gilles de la Tourette practised.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00013KCPE "John's Not Mad" DVD at Amazon]
* [http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/bellsmyre/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=4086 Article from Bellsmyre Community Portal]