'The Soloist': Living With Mental Illness On Skid Row The Soloist tells the story of Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless cellist who has schizophrenia.22 Apr 2009
Does The Soloist portray schizophrenia accurately?
Will the real schizophrenia please stand up? With a few forgivable missteps and obligatory dramatizations, The Soloist portrays schizophrenic Nathaniel Ayers, or as he prefers it, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers Junior, in a richly nuanced and clinically accurate manner.14 May 2009
Who is The Soloist based on?
The life of Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, 65, is the true story behind the 2009 film, The Soloist, staring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.15 Jan 2018
What happens in The Soloist?
A newspaper journalist discovers a homeless musical genius and tries to improve his situation. In 2005, the only thing hurting Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez more than his face from a recent bike accident was his pressing need for story ideas.
Who has schizophrenia in The Soloist?
Nathaniel Ayers
Did Nathaniel Ayers have delusions?
As well as his delusions, Ayers' hallucinations are convincingly and accurately portrayed. 145 Initially, as depicted in The Soloist, Ayers hears voices simply repeating his name, which disorients him, but doesn't appear to particularly scare him.
What is the message of The Soloist?
Lopez has Ayers store the cello at the real-life Los Angeles Men's Project (LAMP) on skid row, and through his dealings with one of the LAMP social workers (Nelsan Ellis) Lopez is tutored in the project's message: Provide the homeless with food and shelter, respect their lives, don't try to medicate their problems out 24 Apr 2009
Is The Soloist a real story?
"The Soloist," based on a true story, tells how Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, played by Robert Downey Jr., discovered the homeless Ayers and helped the former music prodigy, who has schizophrenia. The movie comes out Friday.23 Apr 2009
Where is The Soloist now?
Ayers no longer lives on the street and is currently living at a facility in LA where he is safe, has access to doctors, therapy and can often be found playing one of several instruments.15 Jan 2018
How is Nathaniel Ayers now?
Almost 15 years later, Nathaniel lives in a locked mental rehab facility, and the rest of us live at the center of an epic collapse of care and a failure of leadership.15 Sept 2019
What happens at the end of The Soloist?
It is revealed at the end that Ayers is still a member of the LAMP Community a Los Angeles nonprofit organization that seeks to help people living with severe mental illness and that Lopez is learning how to play the guitar.
Does The Soloist have a happy ending?
Their story, though, has only a qualified happy ending. "I will not romanticize it," Lopez says.22 Apr 2009