What is this documentary?

November 25, 2006 7:29 PM

What is this documentary?: High flying advertising executive tragically becomes a homeless due to mental illness.

I remember watching a very powerful documentary (either in the UK or the US) about a successdul advertising / PR executive in (I think) Manhatten. Due to mental ilness and/or alcolholism, he becomes a homeless wreck.

Some of the more striking scenes I recall: (1) The man attempts to cook dinner and ends up smashing up his kitchen in frustration. (2) He calls up some of the places he used to work and asks for $50.00 to help him out.

I think it's quite a famous story and I have a feeling the poor man died in the end.

THANKS

posted by rocco to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

I wonder whether you're thinking of Permanent Midnight? It was a feature film, not a documentary, but it's based on this memoir.
posted by Siobhan at 8:19 PM on November 25, 2006

Does the guy have schizophrenia? If so I think I know what you're talking about.
posted by mynameismandab at 8:45 PM on November 25, 2006

Response by poster: mandab - yes, I'm sure he had some kind of mental illness, perhaps schizophrenia. What are you thinking of?

thx.
posted by rocco at 8:57 AM on November 26, 2006

Unknown White Male
posted by dpcoffin at 10:54 AM on November 26, 2006

Response by poster: "Unknown White Male " - no, that's not it. It must have been made before 2001, I think.
posted by rocco at 11:14 AM on November 26, 2006

Was it on a network news show like Dateline or 20/20?
posted by mynameismandab at 9:43 PM on November 26, 2006