Faces that tell a story

D’Haeze documentary takes passionate look at mental illness

By Cliff Newell

The Lake Oswego Review, Aug 31, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Kevin and Dawn D’Haeze’s new documentary is truly a work of passion and commitment.

Called subCITY: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, the film uses Kevin’s technical wizardry as a maker of commercial films and Dawn’s expertise as an addictions counselor. And $100,000 of their own money.

That is because the Lake Oswego couple so much wants something done to help Americans suffering from mental illness.

“Right now, people with mental health problems are just moved along,” Dawn said. “People have their treatment cut off, and all that is left is prison or the emergency room. The same people are seen over and over and over.”

As for technique and visual effects, subCITY is superb, presenting a history lesson and a call to action in a crisp 43 minutes and 15 seconds.

But what viewers will remember most about subCITY are the faces. The faces of persons afflicted by mental illness and their struggle to be healed in a society that just is not handling this challenge in the right way.

“There are so many stories,” said Dawn, who interviewed every person featured in the film. “This film could have been 10 times as long.”

The greatest impact comes when patients talk about the closing of the “J” building at the Oregon State Hospital. The problem then becomes highly personalized. The viewer is confronted not by a faintly disturbing statistic, but by a real human being with heartbreaking problems.

“So often a person with a mental health breakdown is only admitted to a hospital if they are a danger to others,” Kevin said. “If there is not a bed available, the police are called.

“Even if they get into a hospital, the maximum time they can stay is 72 hours. Maybe they’re stabilized, maybe they’re not.”

Calling the police is not working. Capt. Don Forman of the Lake Oswego Police is interviewed in the film, and he vividly describes what a drain dealing with mental health patients puts on his department; to almost no beneficial result except temporary relief.

“What should be done is not being done,” Kevin said.

The solution?

The D’Haezes think that one way is for as many people as possible to see subCITY. The movie opens tonight in Portland at the Hollywood Theater at 6 p.m. It then comes to Lake Oswego for showings at the Lake Theater on Saturday and Sunday at noon.

For this to happen, the husband-wife documentary team is now actively seeking public donations.

Then the D’Haezes want to take their show on the road, especially for viewing by professionals in the mental health field and teachers.

“I’m an idealist,” Dawn said. “Kevin makes it a reality. What he does is just amazing to me. We want people to be moved, but with a sense of hope. Then maybe they’ll start calling their congressman or even talk to their neighbor.”

“I’ve done a lot of commercial stuff that sells things,” Kevin said. “Now I want to sell ideas.”

For more information about subCITY: Out of Sight, Out of Mind, go to the Web site www.subcityfilm.com .

The Lake Theater is located at 106 N. State St. in Lake Oswego.