EDITORS' CHOICE FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2003
West 47th Street
10:00 PM PBS P.O.V.
90 min.

“West 47th Street,” an affecting cinéma-vérité documentary, follows four people living with mental illnesses at the Manhattan rehabilitation center Fountain House for three years.

Tex Gordon, who was first institutionalized as a teen, has recovered to the point that a judge deems him “competent.” “I'm my own boss,” he exults. Zeinab Wali is an excellent cook, and Frances Olivero takes an interest in politics. But Fitzroy Frederick still wrestles with demons and fights with others at Fountain House, Wali among them. Filmmaker Bill Lichtentstein, who has struggled with depression himself, also produces the public-radio series The Infinite Mind. (VCR Plus+ 41548)