1) Chief in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
One of the most absolutely enjoyable aspects of 1975’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is the manic energy of a young Jack Nicholson. His presence is what breathes life into the film, just as his character Mac breathes life into the mental institution ward in which he’s been committed. The perfect counterweight to Mac’s non-stop squawk is Chief, believed by apparently everyone in the hospital to be both deaf and mute, given that he does not respond to anyone who speaks to him in any way.
One of many breakthroughs Mac makes while in the psych ward is learning that Chief is actually capable of speech, which he finds out when Chief says “thank you” for a piece of gum Mac shares with him. It turns out it’s all an act Chief puts on so other people will leave him alone. It makes both of them actors, playing a part to draw a certain response from the people around them and to avoid alternative treatment. The relationship between the two characters is one of the most grounding features of the movie, and Chief’s final redemption is made all the more triumphant by the wordlessness.
Published: Mar 9, 2013 01:52 pm