The Desert of the Real

When do you know that something is real? Six people who have experienced psychosis take the viewer on a journey through their experiences, raising fundamental questions about reality and consciousness. Despite their different backgrounds—a psychologist, a philosopher, a musician, a mental health professional, and an artist—they share profound reflections on how psychosis has changed the way they see the world.

The Desert of the Real, one of the audience favourites at IDFA, explores their lives before these life-changing events, their experiences of psychosis, and their journey back. Their disarming and emotional memories are brought to life through carefully constructed scenes that reflect how several of the protagonists felt as though they were inside a film: living rooms and clinics become film sets. The documentary’s distinctive visual style draws inspiration from science-fiction and horror films.

As the film progresses, the perspective shifts: the protagonists do not return to a “healthy” world, but to an alienating and disorienting reality. The Desert of the Real, the new documentary by Luuk Bouwman (Gerlach, De Propagandist), explores the experience of psychosis and raises questions about how we treat people who fall outside the norm. The title is taken from the 1999 sci-fi classic The Matrix.