Spoiler Alert: Read Only If You Have Watched the Movie
What Lessons Can Be Learned from This Film?
How can one inspire others’ behavior and lives without directly trying to influence them? The answer is simple: One must be like McMurphy.
McMurphy (Nicholson) is accused of assaulting an underage girl. The court, suspecting that he might have a mental disorder, sends him to a psychiatric hospital to determine whether he is truly mentally ill or merely a criminal, so that a fair trial and sentencing process can take place.
In this institution, everyone plays cards together, and cigarettes bring them comfort. It appears that peace exists among them. Each of them has experienced events in their personal lives that led them to either become insane or be perceived as such. McMurphy quickly integrates and connects with them.
Lesson One: The Basketball Game
Chief, the tall Native American who does not speak, is believed to be deaf and mute. During a basketball game, McMurphy tells him, “You’re tall, you can help the team, you can put the ball in the hoop.” He then explains how Chief can improve his game. Their opponents are the hospital staff and orderlies. One of them tells McMurphy, “Let’s just play, he can’t hear or understand you, so he’s no help.” McMurphy replies, “Well, it doesn’t hurt to try, does it?”
What is McMurphy’s goal? To make them better at what they do. At that moment, basketball was everything to him. He did whatever it took to improve the game. He recognized Chief’s height and potential and gave him advice to help him improve.
The key point here is that people often say, “Let others be, let them do as they please.” Many of us have had experiences where we advised someone, only for them to ignore it due to their own ego. But if our intentions are good and our goal is collective benefit and value creation, we should speak up. Perhaps the other person’s mind is completely closed, but as McMurphy says: “Well, it doesn’t hurt to try.”
As Saadi persian poet once wrote:
“I tell you what is true and right,
Take my words as wisdom, or as mere chatter—it is up to you.”
As the film progresses, we see another basketball scene. This time, everything is different. Chief throws the ball into the hoop from the other side of the court, returns with pride, blocks an opponent’s shot, and laughs. The team wins. In the few days between these two scenes, Chief has reflected on McMurphy’s words, gained confidence, and discovered something within himself.
Lesson Two: Nothing Is Impossible
We see group therapy sessions where each patient recounts painful experiences from their past. These discussions bring them nothing but distress and unease, making them feel even worse.
McMurphy recognizes this and sees the futility of these sessions. Suddenly, during one meeting, he says, “Instead of this, let’s watch a baseball game.” Nurse Ratched suggests a vote. Only two or three people raise their hands, while the others hesitate, afraid to express their wishes. It is clear that something has been killed within them—the courage to voice their desires.
We have all encountered a “Nurse Ratched” in life—someone who outwardly appears helpful but whose actions have the opposite effect.
McMurphy realizes this. He stands in front of the blank television screen and starts commentating on an imaginary baseball game. The others gather around him. After a dull therapy session, they are now laughing and happy. Perhaps watching a baseball game is the best therapy—even for those living in a psychiatric hospital.
Hamidreza Sadr beautifully said:
“Life is like swimming in a vast and stormy ocean. Watching football is that moment when we rise above the water and take a breath.”
Later, McMurphy declares, “I will lift this water fountain, throw it at the window, break the metal barrier, and we will all escape.” The water fountain, made of stone, weighs nearly two tons. Everyone laughs at him and bets that he cannot lift it.
He starts to exert himself, his face turning red. He keeps trying… but he cannot do it.
Later, when their request to watch baseball is denied again, they sit in a room, defeated. McMurphy suggests they go to the city and watch the game in a café. They ask, “How?” They see themselves as permanent prisoners. McMurphy replies, “I will lift this water fountain, break the window, and we will escape.”
Everyone laughs. They say he cannot do it. He tries again. His face turns red, he struggles… but he still cannot lift it. Yet, as he walks out, he says, “At least I tried, didn’t I?”
Several therapy sessions later, we see Cheswick and others shouting in protest. Why didn’t we see this before? Because McMurphy’s actions had given them courage.
In the final scene, Chief, now dreaming of freedom, walks toward the heavy stone sink. Something that perhaps only a machine or a group of ten people could move—he lifts it, throws it at the window, breaks the metal barrier, and escapes… Perhaps one day, to Canada.
McMurphy’s actions and efforts inspired them all. If he had never tried to lift that fountain, Chief would never have even considered attempting it. If McMurphy had never questioned the therapy sessions, no one else would have later voiced their demands.
Lesson Three: How Kindness and Good Intentions Build Trust and Bring People Closer
What McMurphy did for Chief in the basketball game changed him. He had more confidence, self-respect, and a renewed sense of purpose.
When McMurphy was in trouble, Chief rushed to help him—like a child watching his best friend being hurt, instinctively running to defend him.
In the shock therapy room, when both were about to be punished, McMurphy secretly handed Chief a piece of gum. Chief chewed it with delight… and then, for the first time, he spoke.
He had been pretending to be deaf and mute. It was as if this wise and observant Native American, who had chosen silence and watchfulness for survival, had surrendered to McMurphy. Like two childhood friends in kindergarten, they talked with pure sincerity. They planned their escape to Canada.
The day they were supposed to go on an outing, McMurphy led them out early and took them to a lake for a boat ride. That moment was magnificent.
When McMurphy taught Martini how to fish and told him, “Martini, you’re a fisherman,” Martini’s smile widened, his kind eyes shone brighter. Martini, who—if he had lived in society—would have been adored by everyone for his sweet smile, kind eyes, and deep heart, was instead spending his life in a mental institution.
When McMurphy taught Cheswick how to steer the boat, the joy on Cheswick’s face showed how meaningful life can become when one feels useful.
And what McMurphy did for Billy…
That final night, McMurphy’s selflessness for Billy disrupted their escape plan.
In the morning, when Nurse Ratched entered angrily, Billy walked out of the room, speaking fluently—without his stutter. He was happy. But when Nurse Ratched scolded him and said she would tell his mother what he had done…
Billy’s stutter returned.
McMurphy, watching this, was filled with thought. A thought that said:
These men are not crazy.
It is Nurse Ratched who has made them this way.
These are the most ordinary and human beings who could be living normal lives outside.
This film carries a clear message: “The courage to change, the courage to stand, and the courage to make an impact.”