When one's life gets too complicated and unliveable he or she will look for a way out. In Milos Forman's academy award winning movie, "One Flew Over the Cookoo's nest," the theme of wanting to escape life is brought to our attention. Throughout this movie, although many themes are arisen, the most significant is the desire to escape life. Jack Nicholson {protagonist} is a theoretical, intelligent man, looking for his inner self, nevertheless so are his supporting cast. While viewing this "unforgettable motion picture," one will notice special effects that go far beyond the plot itself.
This movie is similar to most novels and short stories. Beginning, midpoint, and conclusion. In the beginning, McMurphy's (jack's) character is quickly distinguished. This rebellious, obscene, sympathetic character acts very different from the rest of the men in the mental institute in Salem, Oregon. The audience learns that McMurphy formerly worked on a farm and was accused of statutory rape. However, before this accusation he was haunted by 7 accounts of assault and was therefore issued to be analyzed by authorities. McMurphy works hard the entire time he is there trying to get out of that bright white atmosphere and make sense of his new "friends." The bus scene, where McMurphy "hijacks" the bus, the audience is left to wonder whether or not these insane men are going to return. He takes the 9 men out to experience a great day of adventure fishing, and later returns only to be taken back to the institute to be imprisoned. He continues to explore the characters in this movie while trying to shape his inner self. Also when he has the chance to get out of there with no problems, he is sympathetic to his friends and can"t not include them from his adventures. This is where conflict is mainly introduced in this movie.
Milos Forman has done an amazing job creating the setting of this movie. This institute is an actual mental hospital in Oregon.