On the Adamant

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1:41

On the Adamant

2023

1h 49m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, this affecting, enlightening documentary from nonfiction master Nicolas Philibert (To Be and to Have, In the Land of the Deaf) invites viewers to come aboard the Adamant and witness the transformational power of art and community. The Adamant is a one-of-a-kind place: a floating refuge on the Seine River in the heart of Paris that offers day programs for adults with mental illnesses. Its attendees come from across the city and are offered care that grounds them in time and space, helping them achieve recovery and stability. Through a blend of therapy, education, and culture rooted in music and the arts, the Adamant offers a hopeful vision of what a humanistic approach to mental health care could look like. The community on the boat is intentionally created so that both the staff and the people receiving care are treated with the same respect and dignity. Their meetings and conversations reveal the camaraderie and collective humanity of a group of people whose similarities far outweigh their differences.

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Critics Consensus

Nicolas Philibert's patiently observational approach elevates On the Adamant through its refusal to impose or manufacture a narrative arc.

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Tom Ryan

Sydney Morning Herald

05/16/2024

Few will be able to watch On the Adamant without being deeply moved and inspired by what they see.

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Peter Sobczynski

RogerEbert.com

03/29/2024

3.5/4

This is a soft-spoken but ultimately powerful work that makes the case for the importance of empathy in treating those with mental illnesses, and makes you hope that programs like the one depicted here will one day become the norm.

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Beatrice Loayza

New York Times

03/28/2024

That Philibert doesn’t stick to a “main character,” or impose a phony narrative arc, vibes well with the facility’s free-spirited methods, even if the documentary lacks the drama of a more structured production.

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Diana Tuova

Loud and Clear Reviews

11/12/2024

4/5

On the Adamant is a thoughtful, eye-opening documentary about one unique mental health centre that prioritises compassion, self-expression and interaction.

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Sumner Forbes

Film Threat

04/24/2024

9.5/10

On the Adamant humanizes those living with mental illness and reaffirms their lasting value to society.

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

03/29/2024

Illuminating and poignant, this observational documentary avoids providing deeper context yet remains a richly detailed glimpse into a unique facility to treat mental illness.

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Runa R

@runa.r 05/23/2025

Throughout history there have been dreadful episodes, and they undoubtedly still happen today, perhaps without our awareness. It would be wonderful if there were always institutions of this standard to support people with mental disabilities.

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Nicolas Philibert

Director

Nicolas Philibert

Writer

Janusz Baranek

Film Editor

Nicolas Philibert

Film Editor

Céline Loiseau

Producer

Gilles Sacuto

Producer

On the Adamant: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, this affecting, enlightening documentary from nonfiction master Nicolas Philibert (To Be and to Have, In the Land of the Deaf) invites viewers to come aboard the Adamant and witness the transformational power of art and community. The Adamant is a one-of-a-kind place: a floating refuge on the Seine River in the heart of Paris that offers day programs for adults with mental illnesses. Its attendees come from across the city and are offered care that grounds them in time and space, helping them achieve recovery and stability. Through a blend of therapy, education, and culture rooted in music and the arts, the Adamant offers a hopeful vision of what a humanistic approach to mental health care could look like. The community on the boat is intentionally created so that both the staff and the people receiving care are treated with the same respect and dignity. Their meetings and conversations reveal the camaraderie and collective humanity of a group of people whose similarities far outweigh their differences.

Director: Nicolas Philibert
Producer: Céline Loiseau, Gilles Sacuto, Miléna Poylo
Screenwriter: Nicolas Philibert
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Longride Inc., TS Productions, Doco Digital, France 3 Cinéma
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: French
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 28, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.1K
Runtime: 1h 49m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)