Of Two Minds

A split personality, a personality of two entities. A division. Is that what bipolar is? Is bipolar a community treatment device or a locked in mental component to be treated on ER Wards? This movie takes the viewer into the lives of four individuals with a diagnosed serious mental illness. Each individual is unique. Their stories are unique and there is no dialogue between the four key players. Instead it is like each individual shares their own narrative with the camera in their own individualized fashion. This design of editing makes the parts of the whole a very structured whole. It is like tall skyscrapers reaching for the skies. The identities of each individual did come out and their unique identities versus the DSM label identities each did fall into an excellence. This movie is about recovery and exceeding societal expectations. It puts bipolar into a new light, one of humanity versus the sick role.

This documentary introduces us to about five or six people living with bipolar disorder--and also to a couple others who lost their struggle with bipolar and committed suicide. It sounds terribly sad, right? But you will be utterly enchanted by the interesting, creative, funny people we meet. I found myself laughing more than I teared up.

The filmmakers did a terrific job of highlighting an oft-misunderstood diagnosis. It's an optimistic movie--we see people thriving with bipolar, both with and without medication--but it is also realistic. The risk of suicide among persons with bipolar disorder is all too real, and that's not sugar-coated here.