Claudia Draper (Barbra Streisand) is accused of first-degree manslaughter. But before she can get to that trial, she has to be determined competent to aid in her own defense. Her wealthy step-father (Karl Malden) wants her declared insane and the New York prison psychiatrist (Eli Wallach) agrees. Claudia is hostile, angry, and prone to violent outbursts. Only her court-appointed attorney (Richard Dreyfuss) is willing to stand up to the rubber-stamping and find out why Claudia is so angry and uncooperative.
This has not aged well in terms of mental health practices or attitudes towards sex work (not everyone in sex work was abused or has daddy issues) but with the Britney Spears conservatorship just recently overturned, it is still spot-on in the infantilization and control of women. It's not a fun watch, but Streisand is commanding. Also, it has Leslie Nielsen in a rare dramatic role (but in a bikini brief so your mileage may vary). It's currently streaming on Kanopy.
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