I Think I Finally Get It's A Wonderful Life
Thanks to Tyler Black, M.D. and the Psychiatry Bootcamp Podcast
The Frontier Psychiatrists is a daily health-themed newsletter. It’s written—largely—by Owen Muir, M.D. I have a partner in most things,
, who has—much to her credit—insisted today that I write this piece.“Have you written anything today?” She just said, just now.
“No.”
“That is awful. Go write those things about It’s a Wonderful Life,” she said a moment later. It’s 9:12 pm the day after Christmas and one long drive back from Connecticut later for us. She is my wife, I will add.
It’s A Wonderful Life is a strange movie for a holiday classic. It’s the touching tale that wouldn’t be made today— but has somehow flown under the radar as a Christmas classic ever since. Some highlights that seem strange in 2023:
The main character is physically assaulted as a child in the opening scenes of the movie, leading to a lifelong disability (deafness in one ear).
The plot is pretty hostile to private equity. I am surprised the movie hasn’t been digitally upgraded to recast Mr. Potter and h…