Sybil (2007 film)

The 2007 film ''Sybil'' is a made-for-television biographical drama film directed by Joseph Sargent. It stars Jessica Lange as Sybil Dorsett, a woman diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). The film is an adaptation of Flora Rheta Schreiber's 1973 non-fiction book of the same name, which chronicled Sybil's life and treatment under the care of her psychiatrist, Cornelia Wilbur.

The film depicts Sybil's struggles with her numerous alter personalities, each with distinct characteristics, memories, and even physical manifestations. The narrative focuses on her arduous journey of therapy and the gradual integration of her fragmented selves under Dr. Wilbur's guidance. It explores the trauma underlying her condition, highlighting the devastating effects of childhood abuse. While generally faithful to the core narrative of the book, the film takes certain creative liberties and streamlines some aspects of Sybil's complex therapy.

The film's reception was mixed. While some praised Lange's powerful performance and the film's sensitive portrayal of DID, others criticized the film's potential to perpetuate harmful stereotypes surrounding the disorder and questioned the accuracy of Schreiber's original account, given subsequent controversies surrounding Wilbur's methods and the reliability of Sybil's diagnosis. The debate surrounding the authenticity of Sybil's case continues to this day. The film remains a significant piece of popular culture's engagement with DID, albeit a controversial one.