The Lunatics

Set in Hong Kong, the film unfolds across crowded urban streets and stark hospital spaces. The narrative opens at a bustling fish market, showcasing the city’s chaos, before shifting to Castle Peak mental health facilities and the surrounding neighborhoods. It portrays a city grappling with mental illness and its impact on individuals, families, and public services.

🧠 Mental Health

The Lunatics treats mental illness as a lived, everyday reality rather than a distant issue. It centers on Dr. Tsui's compassionate work with people who have been marginalized by society. The narrative shows how trauma, stigma, and systemic gaps in care shape the lives of patients and their families. Through crises and small acts of care, the film invites reflection on what genuine support for mental health should look like.

🗞️ Media & Public Awareness

Miss Lau's reporting highlights the tension between public awareness and sensationalism. The article about Tsuen's case triggers shifts in public opinion and policy, while risking further harm to those involved. The film demonstrates how media narratives can mobilize aid or fuel fear, underscoring responsible journalism's impact on vulnerable people.

🏥 Care System & Institutions

Castle Peak Hospital and related social services are depicted as overtaxed and under-resourced. The film contrasts empathetic, patient-centred care with bureaucratic limits that hinder long-term rehabilitation. It questions whether care is primarily about containment or meaningful reintegration into family and community. The climax underscores the cost when care systems fail to protect patients and the public.