After the unexpected passing of Jordan Feldstein, Jonah Hill sought the help of a therapist in 2017.
In his recent documentary, Hill admits to his therapist Phil Stutz that he often avoids thinking about that specific day.
‘I visited your workplace on the most stressful day of my life,’
Stutz, featured in Hill’s documentary now streaming on Netflix, is an unconventional experiment that defies expectations. It debuted on November 14, 2022.
The documentary delves into Jonah Hill’s relationship with therapist Phil Stutz and how the actor utilized the coping mechanisms he learned in therapy to navigate through some of the most challenging moments in his life.
Additional Insights on the Netflix Documentary Stutz
Johan Hill, a 38-year-old A-list actor, decided to direct a film in which he had an interview with renowned psychiatrist Phil Stutz, his therapist.
In 2017, Hill’s brother passed away. Hill had been seeing Stutz for therapy even before this incident, but their shared experience gives their conversation a deeper, more human quality.
Initially, Hill tries to keep this aspect of the narrative private and refrains from discussing it on camera. However, he eventually opens up about his brother’s story. Hill aims to center the story solely on Stutz but faces challenges in doing so.
Ultimately, this documentary is incredibly captivating: their conversation and interaction do not cater to an external audience. Despite potentially coming across as self-indulgent, this artistic approach frequently mirrors reality.
Stutz, a seventy-four-year-old with a wealth of life experiences, leaves lasting impressions. However, after encountering Stutz, one doesn’t formulate oversimplified or surface-level views about his life.
Hill recalls visiting Stutz for a session upon learning about his brother’s passing. Stutz asked for Hill’s phone to take a photo of the actor during the session. Hill inquired, ‘I was curious as to why you did that.’
Hill reveals that he hasn’t looked at the picture for four years but now feels ready to confront it, having processed his grief partly through working on this film with Stutz.
Together with Stutz, he examines the image while holding a printed copy of it.
‘That’s the picture of someone who has been through hardship, emerged on the other side, and is genuinely okay,’ Stutz comments in response to the observation.
Hill appears moved by Stutz’s words and proceeds to display the photo for the audience.
Hill explains how Stutz’s methods for processing loss have alleviated his sorrow, emphasizing that they weren’t a quick fix. ‘I still feel that ache every day. I continue to miss my brother,’ he states.
Hill further expresses that he was able to begin overlooking the negative and building a positive self-view upon meeting Stutz.
He chose not to engage in a promotional tour for Stutz and even deactivated his social media accounts as part of his self-care routine.
‘You won’t see me out there promoting this movie or any of my upcoming movies while I take this crucial step to protect myself,’ Hill stated in a statement obtained by Deadline in August. He continued, ‘I wouldn’t be staying true to myself or the movie if I promoted it in a way that made me feel worse. I hope the art will speak for itself.’
