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A mysterious ailment gnaws at some spectators after seeing James Cameron’s latest film: the “post-Avatar depression syndrome”. This feeling of sadness had emerged when the first part of the blockbuster was released in 2009. Faced with the enthusiasm aroused by its freshly released sequel, this syndrome is being talked about again.
After the magic, the depression? Since December 14, “Avatar” is back on the big screen with its second installment “Avatar: The Way of Water”. Seen by more than 2.7 million spectators, James Cameron’s blockbuster made one of the 20 best starts of the century.
This saga is far from leaving viewers indifferent. For more than three hours, they are immersed in an imaginary world called “Pandora”, where the Na’vis, an indigenous population, live in harmony with nature. The discrepancy between the current situation of our planet, namely climate change and the crises that follow in relation to the communion of blue humanoids with nature, would cause a feeling of deep sadness in the spectators.
Already, during the theatrical release of the first opus in 2009, testimonials had flourished in this direction on the fan site “Avatar Forums”. “Ever since I went to see ‘Avatar’, I’ve been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na’vi made me want to be one of them“, had written a user in a message relayed by The Guardian. “I even consider killing myself thinking that if I do I will be reborn in a world similar to Pandora and everything is like in Avatar“. Very quickly, this feeling felt in spectators around the world is nicknamed “Post Avatar depression syndrome”, or “PADS”.
To provide some answers, an American psychiatrist, Dr Stephan Quentzel, explained to CNN at the time of the release of the first opus: “Virtual life isn’t real life and it never will be, but it’s the pinnacle of what we can build into a virtual presentation so far. It took the best of our technology to create this virtual world and real life will never be as utopian as it looks on screen. It makes real life more imperfect“.
To fight against the PADS, several spectators turned to forums in order to share their sadness and their depression with other people affected like them by this syndrome. According to Nick Pavoo, a thirty-year-old belonging to one of his forums (although he does not feel this feeling) who testifies in an article by variety“10 to 15%” of the members of his community have been affected by the film in this way.
Ken Wu, founder of the Ancient Forest Alliancea Canadian association dedicated to the protection of ancient forests, advises: “Get out and experience nature, take action to defend nature and inspire others to do the same. You have to learn to appreciate this beautiful planet“. Earth, not Pandora.