Comments on: What is this documentary?

Question: What is this documentary?

rocco — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 19:29:32 -0800

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

By: Siobhan

Siobhan — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:19:25 -0800

I wonder whether you're thinking of Permanent Midnight? It was a feature film, not a documentary, but it's based on this memoir.

By: mynameismandab

mynameismandab — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:45:23 -0800

Does the guy have schizophrenia? If so I think I know what you're talking about.

By: rocco

rocco — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 08:57:40 -0800

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

thx.

By: dpcoffin

dpcoffin — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 10:54:49 -0800

Unknown White Male

By: rocco

rocco — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 11:14:29 -0800

"Unknown White Male " - no, that's not it. It must have been made before 2001, I think.

By: mynameismandab

mynameismandab — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 21:43:41 -0800

Was it on a network news show like Dateline or 20/20?