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Words on Bathroom Walls
Movie

Words on Bathroom Walls

2020 • Unknown

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.

Overall Series Review

The film focuses on the main character Adam Petrazelli, a young man who struggles to hide his schizophrenia diagnosis from the world, his supportive family, and his new love interest, Maya. The narrative is centered on the universal theme of fighting the stigma of mental illness and the pursuit of individual aspiration, specifically Adam’s dream of becoming a chef. Diversity is present in the casting of the leads, but it is not utilized to drive a plot about identity politics or systemic oppression. The setting includes a Catholic high school where a priest is portrayed positively as a mentor and moral compass. The movie largely focuses on character merit and the complexity of mental health, with a strong emphasis on the protagonist's inner world, represented by his hallucinations. Woke themes are minimally present, confined to a single line of dialogue where the female lead expresses a modern political view.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics3/10

The central conflict is the stigma surrounding the protagonist's mental illness, not his race or an intersectional hierarchy. The protagonist is white, and the love interest is played by a Black actress, but their relationship conflict is based on Adam's secret about his health and Maya’s secret about her financial struggles. One review notes the female protagonist calls a school event an 'extension of the patriarchy'. The plot does not lecture on privilege or systemic oppression.

Oikophobia1/10

The movie is focused on the personal and medical struggle of the protagonist within a contemporary American setting. Core Western institutions like family are positively represented, with Adam’s mother and stepfather providing a vital support system for his illness. There is no hostility toward Western civilization or ancestors.

Feminism3/10

The female lead, Maya, is characterized as 'brilliant' and a valedictorian. She is not an instant 'Mary Sue,' as the plot reveals she is secretly engaged in academic dishonesty to earn money, giving her personal flaws. One brief line of dialogue injects feminist rhetoric, as Maya rejects the prom as an 'extension of the patriarchy'. Adam's goals and emotional life are the core focus, and he is not emasculated; his personality is complex, complete with aggressive hallucinatory components. Motherhood is depicted positively through the supportive role of Adam’s mother.

LGBTQ+1/10

The core romantic relationship is a traditional male-female pairing. The plot is centered on mental illness, family support, and aspiration. No storyline or character arc revolves around queer theory, alternative sexualities, or gender ideology. The nuclear family structure is largely affirmed as a source of strength, even if Adam is living with a blended family.

Anti-Theism1/10

The protagonist attends a Catholic high school after an incident at his previous public school. He frequently seeks advice from a priest, Father Patrick, in the confessional, who is described as providing the film with its 'moral compass'. The faith itself is not attacked; rather, a religious figure and institution are portrayed as a positive source of non-judgmental counsel and support, regardless of the protagonist’s own lack of belief.