"Mad World" (2016) - Are You a 'Normal Person' Living in Society or a 'Madman' Living Your Truth?"

 

Mad Word (2016)

The themes explored in "Mad World" are profoundly anti-establishment yet deeply human. The protagonist's reactions to every challenge he faces are reasonable and authentic, guided by his feelings, yet society labels him as "mentally ill." The film's premise, much like its English title "Mad World," seems to suggest that it's not the protagonist who's crazy but the world around him.

When the protagonist decides not to send his aging mother to a nursing home, it's a decision driven by love despite being a financial burden as a new homeowner. He understands that his mother has no one else to rely on, choosing family over money. Isn't this the right thing to do? In reality, more people choose money, and what's even more tragic is that parents often choose money for their children, willingly residing in nursing homes themselves. "Why do we think there's no problem with this?"

At his friend's wedding, the protagonist confronts the guests for obsessing over the extravagance of the banquet rather than cherishing the unity of two souls. He's labeled as an "oddity" for his outburst. After the wedding, the groom commits suicide by jumping off a building, reportedly due to work-related stress. Contrasting the protagonist, deemed "mentally ill" by society, with these "normal people," one has to question who the real madmen are.

Society has a way of eroding individual thinking. From childhood, we're trained to fit into society's mold, our values defined, career paths determined, and the meaning of life set. But this shouldn't be dictated by society. True "madness" lies in blindly following societal norms.

In "Mad World," the protagonist's struggles remind us to question the norms that society imposes upon us. Are you a "normal person" conforming to societal expectations, or are you a "madman" daring to live life on your own terms?