Originally posted on 3/14/21
Just got done rewatching SYBIL (1976) on DVD. I remember seeing the two-part television premiere and how deeply and profoundly affecting it was.
It's the harrowing story of a young woman, Sybil Dorsett (Sally Field), suffering from multiple personality disorder after years of abuse from a warped, sadistic mother.
Joanne Woodward plays the maternal psychiatrist who struggles to help Sybil survive her emotional ordeal and reassemble her shattered psyche.
Maybe the most emotionally devastating movie I've ever seen, and, unlike any other film, it keeps me on the verge of tears and beyond throughout most of its running time.
(The "big chair" scene is especially wrenching, so much so that 80s pop group Tears For Fears referenced it in the title of their album "Songs From The Big Chair.")
Most of the film's effectiveness is due to Sally Field giving what may be the best film performance of all time. She's utterly amazing in this, and never got another opportunity to be so good.
Her talent is no longer a surprise, but back then, seeing the actress known mainly for fluff like "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun" deliver a performance like this was nothing short of astounding.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime role for her, just as Patton was for George C. Scott, Tuco was for Eli Wallach, Baby Doll was for Carroll Baker, Stanley Kowalski was for Marlon Brando, and Joan of Arc was for Renée Jeanne Falconetti.
But I honestly think that this might top them all, aided in no small part by the great script, direction, supporting cast, and Leonard Rosenman's heartrending musical theme for Sybil.
The fact that the veracity of this "true story" has been debunked over the years takes nothing away from it. SYBIL is highly recommended for anyone who wants an intensely emotional viewing experience, one which lingers long after it's over.
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