Nise: The Heart of Madness Poster

Nise: The Heart of Madness 2016

★ 8.1132 votes106 min📅 2016-04-21

Roberto Berliner's *Nise: The Heart of Madness* (2016) transports viewers to 1950s Rio de Janeiro, where the idealistic psychiatrist Dr. Nise da Silveira returns from prison to challenge the brutal methods of her era.

Director: Roberto Berliner

Cast

Glória Pires
Glória Pires
Nise da Silveira
Julio Adrião
Julio Adrião
Carlos Pertuis
Claudio Jaborandy
Claudio Jaborandy
Emygdio de Barros
Fabrício Boliveira
Fabrício Boliveira
Fernando Diniz
Roberta Rodrigues
Roberta Rodrigues
Ivone
Flávio Bauraqui
Flávio Bauraqui
Otávio Inácio
Fernando Eiras
Fernando Eiras
Mário Magalhães
Charles Fricks
Charles Fricks
Mário Pedrosa
Luciana Fregolente
Luciana Fregolente
Eugênia
Zécarlos Machado
Zécarlos Machado
Dr. Nelson

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nise: The Heart of Madness (2016) about?

The film follows Dr. Nise da Silveira as she returns to work in a psychiatric hospital in 1950s Rio de Janeiro, rejecting violent treatments like electroshock. Forced to oversee an abandoned occupational therapy unit, she turns it into a haven for creativity, where patients heal through painting and care for animals.

Who directed Nise: The Heart of Madness?

Roberto Berliner directed the film, bringing a nuanced and atmospheric approach to this historical drama.

Who stars in Nise: The Heart of Madness?

The cast features Glória Pires as Dr. Nise da Silveira, alongside Julio Adrião, Claudio Jaborandy, Fabrício Boliveira, and Roberta Rodrigues.

Is Nise: The Heart of Madness (2016) worth watching?

If you appreciate historical dramas with emotional depth and a compelling protagonist, this film is absolutely worth watching. Berliner's direction and Pires' performance anchor a story that's both inspiring and thought-provoking.

How long is Nise: The Heart of Madness?

The runtime is 106 minutes, offering a tightly woven narrative that balances intimacy with historical weight.

🎥 Trailer

About Nise: The Heart of Madness (2016) — A Defiant Psychiatrist's Revolution in Art and Compassion

Roberto Berliner's *Nise: The Heart of Madness* (2016) transports viewers to 1950s Rio de Janeiro, where the idealistic psychiatrist Dr. Nise da Silveira returns from prison to challenge the brutal methods of her era. Assigned to a forgotten wing of a psychiatric hospital, she transforms a space of despair into a sanctuary of creativity, introducing art, animals, and compassion as healing tools. Glória Pires delivers a powerhouse performance as Nise, whose defiance of institutional norms sparks a quiet revolution in mental health care. This deeply moving drama blends historical urgency with emotional resonance, painting a vivid portrait of resilience against all odds.

Set against the backdrop of post-war Brazil, the film captures the tension between tradition and innovation, where a single voice can reshape perceptions of madness and humanity. Berliner crafts an atmosphere thick with both struggle and hope, celebrating the power of unconventional thinking. *Nise: The Heart of Madness* isn't just a biopic—it's a testament to the transformative force of empathy in a world that often dismisses it.