The Typewriter and Other Headaches

Nicolas Philibert’s On the Adamant (2023) and Averroès & Rosa Parks (2024) focus on two exceptional centers for psychiatric care in Paris. In The Typewriter and Other Headaches he follows several figures from these earlier films.

He visits them in their homes in the wake of volunteers providing practical help, like repairing the typewriter on which Goulven composes his poetry, or checking a CD player for Muriel—music is a ray of light in her lonely life. Music lover Ivan has problems with his printer and DVD player, and his housemate Gad gets advice about his ambitions to find employment. Another volunteer helps Frédéric sort his ever-expanding collection of music and books.

Ultimately all this support is simply the vehicle for human contact. The volunteers pay attention with respect, patience and genuine interest in everyone’s stories, needs and worries. And they are filmed with similar care and attention. The film offers time and space for meandering conversations, internal monologues spoken out loud, unexpected guests, musical interludes and long silences. A  warm portrait and plea for compassion.