HI.
How are your finals going? I'm gonna hope your answer is "done." But I go to Loyola and ours run over 4 days. Go figure. But in case you're concerned, mine were great. I wrote 4 essays in 2 days in a fevery daze. A literal fever. In public. I would see people well across the way, blink, and they were within feet of my person. Ran into Jonathan Wilson. Not literally, no fear. The whole experience was... It was... honestly I can't say. But my papers got in.
Quote of the Day: "The lights got light and it got real festive real fast" -my essay.
Now for something less self deprecating.
Silver Linings Playbook is the greatest. If you haven't seen it, drop what you're doing right now and go. The story follows Pat, who has just been released from a mental hospital after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. For those who know me, you'll realize that this is in my trifecta of obsessive interests (Musical theatre, sharks, mental disorders). Bipolar disorder hits particularly close to home. But private things are private, and these are the interwebs. So I'm gonna leave it at that.
But really, so see it. Need convincing? If blogging be the food of great movies, read on: [It worked better in my head.]
This is the most honest portrayal of bipolar disorder I have seen in a movie/tv show/reality series. They didn't go for the over dramatic, controversial storyline. My favorite part is that there was NOT ONE mention of or attempt at suicide or self injury. I'm not suggesting we ignore the most dangerous aspect of bipolar, but as soon as self injury gets brought up, we all make some assumptions: cutter, crazy, pitiable, sick, attention seeking, over dramatic, gross. These assumptions completely take over the character and we ignore all their other colors. So thanks writers for not taking the easy way out here.
By keeping it light, the script was able to stay beautifully honest. This is my problem with other interpretations of mental illness in the media. Let's take the beloved "Next To Normal." Sure, it's tragic, great. That's real sad for those of you looking in on their family. I know that was a broad sweeping statement, and I don't judge anyone for being affected by it, but I personally found it hard to sympathize with. My impression of the show is that I have already lived most of it. And that Diana lives till the end. But that is neither here nor there. I'm worried that after seeing such dramatic portrayals makes people who haven't experienced mental illness first hand think that that's how it always goes. This is so destructive. It stops people from looking up actual facts about the illnesses. There's more to people than razor blades and cleaning sprees. It also dehumanizes the affected person. When all you remember about Diana is the pills, the cutting, and the broken family, you don't get to look at her as a person. Just think about it. And educate yourself. Here: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
I don't want to offend anyone. And I know that most of my friends are very knowledgeable on the subject of mental disorders. But I'm forever campaigning to dispel the stereotypes surrounding them. So please, give the site a once over. Or a thrice over. It'll be worth it.
*elegantly steps of soapbox. Back to Silver Linings.
Do the families have arguments? Yep. Do they have the potential to become the central conceit of the show? Yes. But when events like this are a part of your day to day, you don't give them the quality of attention that an outside observer would. I appreciate the lack of dramatic injury montages from this one. It had a real sense of "Well that happened. Lets keep on keepin on." Yes. Thank you for not making Pat a monster.
I love that Pat and Tiffany could have ugly, loud, public fights. It was honest. It was ugly. It wasn't over dramatic. I love that Pat, his brother, and his therapist could get into huge public fights. Again, honest and ugly. And unbiased. This movie doesn't create a hierarchy of humans based on their diagnosis or lack thereof. And the person with bipolar disorder isn't a monster. Praise Jesus.
There's a quote that I don't remember exactly, but it really resonated with me. It was something along the liens of, "Maybe people like us know something ya know? Like something that not everyone knows." Again, yes. Not brought up as a major theme later in the movie, no worries, he doesn't have a hero complex. But still. Yes.
Also, his dad has a touch of OCD. And, unbeknownst to Robert De Niro, we totes had a heart to heart.
This movie reaffirmed for me that you can reach and affect people without going for the super dramatic. Also comedic lightness. Effective. Yes.
So I wrote my most serious blog about it. You're welcome.
Woof, I hope this makes sense. I'm having a really hard time putting words to this. Seeing this movie was like being on the inside of a beautifully crass inside joke. It represents the community of people dealing with mental disorders really really well. And you all need to see it.
The end.
Muchos love,
Kaitlyn
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