Good Side of Bad

Good Side of Bad is a poignant story about the impacts of mental illness on an entire family. Against the backdrop of younger sister Florence's schizophrenia diagnosis and struggles with treatment, older sister Sara steps in to support Florence while trying to shake off the doldrums of midlife and their brother Peter tries to balance the responsibility of caring for their aging mother with the increasing demands of Florence's deteriorating mental state. The delicate balance of trying to care for yourself while simultaneously taking care of a family member is a painful struggle that most can relate to and/or will eventually experience, and Good Side of Bad, while showing how difficult and demanding mental illness can be also reminds us to appreciate the good times and to cherish the strong connections in our lives.

This film is exceptional in presenting the perspectives of all those in a family dealing with schizophrenia. We watch as the characters face the challenges of coming to a happy equilibrium when a member of the family falls into deep psychosis. We see how each person perceives the illness and how they learn to come to grips with it. An excellent film for families with newly diagnosed members as well as for anyone wanting a better understanding of the challenges of living with mental health problems. Not since A Beautiful Mind have we seen psychosis described so vividly. The film brings hope and understanding of mental health issues and is a must see for anyone who knows anyone with mental health issues. The acting is superb as each character is developed and evolved over the course of the film.

The actors gave such revealing performances about the realities of mental illness, the necessity of our loved ones supporting us and the challenges we face supporting one another when we share unfinished conflict.

This story is an important one to share so that we can accept mental illness as sort of our common thread. This is the only way we can begin to heal it.

Lexi Simonsen's performance was raw and heartbreaking as she combines the frustration of being misunderstood with the fear of not knowing what is actually real or what direction to go.

Jules Bruff's performance as the centerpiece of the family rang so true in her portrayal of the deafening dedication it takes to hold a struggling family together.

Masterful performances. Compelling story.

Loved this movie. Just a great film about the power of the sibling relationship. Reminded me of "You Can Count on Me" but with a bigger mental health crisis. (Maybe like "David and Lisa" meets "You Can Count on Me?") Wonderful performances + direction and a great tone. Same actress / director duo did "Part Time Fabulous," also a fantastic film. Check it out if you haven't seen it. It's heartening to see indie films like this getting made! Reminds me of the heyday of indies back when I was in college :) The sibling actors had excellent chemistry. They really felt like sibs! I had the chance to see this one in the theater and loved it. Bought it on Amazon for my collection.

"Good Side of Bad" is such a powerful movie. The story pulls you in right away with its real, emotional characters, and you can't help but feel invested in their journeys. It does an amazing job showing what it's like to deal with mental health challenges, whether you're going through it yourself or watching someone you care about struggle.

Lexie's performance is incredible-she's so relatable and raw. You really feel every bit of her pain and strength, and it's hard not to get emotional watching her.

This movie isn't just something you watch; it sticks with you. It's a beautifully told story that makes you think and feel. If you've ever dealt with mental health issues or supported someone who has, this movie will hit home in the best way.