Tag der Idioten (1981)

 

In a clinic for the insane, the medical staff performs acts of sadomasochism on the patients.

From memory: A very stylized and theatrical approach to dementia is more interested in displaying its topic than actually giving any in-depth analysis; very artificial and artsy and a bit off-putting.

 

 

Liebeskonzil (1982)

 

The playwright Oskar Panizzi was imprisoned by a Bavarian court in 1895 and committed to an insane asylum in 1904, for the rest of his life. The film covers his trial and a performance of his play.

From memory: Werner Schroeter's variation on Oscar Panizza's infamous drama is not an adaptation, but rather a depiction of the artist's fate fighting against a bigot state censorship, a bit dry and outdated topic, but the stage scenes are quite colorful and grotesque. Ironically, the film was banned in Austria for its blasphemy and is still not available to this day.