An Astonishing Comedy?

**An Astonishing Comedy** are the words in the corner of cover of The Fisher King with Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges. While there are a variety of very funny moments in this movie, I have never thought of this as a comedy. Robin appeared very 'at home' in his role as Parry, (from the cover) "a homeless history professor who lives in a fantasy world full of castles, Red Knights and damsels in distress." The reviewer, Joel Siegel, makes this sound like a whimsical, light hearted film, which caused me to wonder if he ever saw it, or if he understood it at all. What he doesn't touch on at all, is the profound mental illness that Parry is experiencing as a result of past trauma. (I won't spoil it with more if you haven't seen it). Robin plays the role brilliantly, with far more familiarity with the torment his character was going through, than most actors could. The film has strong language, but aside from that, it has fascinated me, shocked me, and entertained me all the same, since I first saw it.

Robin was brilliant, and hilarious, and deep. A deep thinker who appeared to feel things very deeply as well. Another movie, that has gotten very little attention, but captured my heart, was Jakob the Liar, set in a concentration camp in Poland. I won't spoil the ending for you, but it has more meaning to me now than ever.

Robin Williams painted entire masterpieces across the hearts of millions and millions of people, touching us with his profound compassion, his spontaneous humor, and his dramatic insight into the hearts of so many persona's that made us wonder how he could figure out who he was, in the midst of such extremes. His eyes sparkled with delight, and yearned for connection, just moments apart. I never knew how he could be so intensely in touch with his characters, then move on to another, so different from the last. Each one, so complete.

Perhaps he couldn't. Perhaps each one presented an added layer to his own pain, with insight into humanity so disturbing, that he really couldn't move on, and he couldn't get in touch with the purpose for it all. We will always wonder, and we will always care about this brilliant man who has left us with such an amazing body of work.

I've laughed with Robin Williams since I was a child. Instead of crying, I find myself looking to the sky, and wondering how I can even grasp this loss at all. Would I have been willing to give up every movie he's ever made, just to see him live a peaceful life, free of the torment he went through, or would it have made a difference for him. Did he find temporary relief in the expression of each character he played? We have so much to learn about mental illness, compassion, and helping others find hope. It is my prayer that we will learn something from Robin's life. Something that will motivate us to recognize it when the people we meet need us to stop looking at their accomplishments, and help them breathe.