Illness

I am bi-polar. I have been that way since I was a child. I am approaching 60. I have been in treatment for many years. There have been relapses and time spent in hospitals. There have been good times. Before I received good treated, I left a trail of emotional, professional, and relational disaster behind me. It broke apart the lives of others as much as it did my own.

I did not know what to expect from this movie. It is a stunningly accurate trip into the mind of a bipolar sufferer. It shows the disease from the outside, too. It is amazing in its accuracy. The mood swings and the detachment from reality.

The brilliance of this movie is the balance struck between the near violent emotional outbursts and the sharp, exacting words spouted by each of the characters. SO CLOSE TO HOME! The music deserves special mention. It is very unique and varied, with each song serving an exact purpose. When the music strikes a harmony with the scene, the movie is all the stronger.

Most Enjoyable Film of 2013 So Far

I saw this movie during the Southampton International Film Festival, in early October 2013, and had been anticipating to see it for some time. The reviews were full of praise and if the award and nomination count was anything to go by, I knew I would be entertained.

As the movie began I found myself a little confused by the chaos in which director decided to film this movie, but as the story got a shape and I became familiar with the characters I found myself appreciating this way of filming.

This movie is one that deals with mental disorder, which are no laughing feat. Soon enough you find yourself caring for these characters.

This is not a movie you should go see if you wish to sit back and not think. I believe you cannot truly appreciate the beauty of Illness if you do not take the time to analyze the characters and their actions.

This film needs to be a feature film, not a short!

This outstanding short film has about the best acting that you'll ever see, and that alone makes this a must-see.

The entire cast is excellent. It didn't take me long to get hooked on this film, and aside from a school scene that is merely good, this is top-notch story. This is a rare film that actually deserved all the awards recognition that it received.

See it for yourself and you will definitely not be disappointed.

I consider myself lucky that I got to view such a wonderful movie with two marvelous actors: Cheryl Allison and Noah Silverman. Illness was great to me because I was able to relate to it.

I work in the field, and have seen almost every dysfunctional, antisocial, nasty behavior shown here in the last month.

I saw this film in L.A. and have never forgotten it. Illness is much, much greater than the sum of it's parts. The movie, loosely, is about an adolescent who suffers from a mental disorder.

This film has so much promise, and has had so many recommendations. My hopes were really high. Illness is well worth the time.

Last, I felt that the movie told me a lot about a very sensitive topic and it needs to be seen by more people.

Hopefully, its writer-director will come-up with a feature length version of the film in the near future.

I recently watched the film and loved it. But this movie isn't for just anyone. I had a sneak preview last night... what a beautiful film. The visuals are something you will remember, the acting is superb, the cast (the kids as the young students and the older kids), the horror of "the illness" and then the unveiling of the reason for "hope" they cling to. One of the best reasons to see this movie is that you will need to think about topics you have not ever grappled with before. Your memories and opinions of this movie should be haunting and unforgettable. It is not a happily-ever-after film and is quiet, slow, and deep. The music is wonderful. Think of this as a foreign film and go with that in mind.