Mental illnesses depicted in films often come across as a simple plot device that is thrown into the background in an attempt to add more depth to the character. However, it ends up portraying an inaccurate, shallow, and disrespectful image of the real struggles that people with mental illnesses go through. In this article, we collected five movies that best depict different mental illnesses in a realistic way that accurately shows how they can impact people in real life.
Manic (Depression)
Manic follows Lyle, who is placed in a juvenile mental institution after a certain incident. Lyle meets a group of other mentally troubled teenagers there. This movie showcases a brutal, painful, and honest portrayal of depression. It does an incredible job of exploring the characters and their narratives without filtering out the bleak reality of the effect depression has on their lives.
The movie does not try to find a solution to these characters’ issues, but instead, it focuses on demonstrating how people go through life with their brains antagonizing them. There is no specific answer to any question by the end of it; all they can do is take it day by day and try to coexist with their mental struggles. That ends up being more than enough.
Silver Linings Playbook (Bipolar Disorder)
The movie follows Pat Solatano, who loses both his job and wife at once, then ends up staying in a mental institution for a while. Once he is out, Pat wants his wife back. But when life puts Tifanny in his way, he finds himself in much more complicated circumstances.
This movie focuses on people with bipolar disorder. It offers an insight into their daily lives and the effect this disorder has on the slightest of their thoughts and actions. It also sheds light on the stigma surrounding bipolar and the internal struggle patients go through that often goes unnoticed by their environment.
Clean, Shaven (Schizophrenia)
After Peter Winter is released from a mental institution, he goes back to his hometown to find his daughter. Peter is schizophrenic; the voices and sounds he hears make his life a living hell. Plus, his belief that there are transmitters implanted in his body does not make it any easier.
Everyone perceives him to be a potential threat, but he refuses to give up on his daughter.
This movie depicts a schizophrenic character masterfully. It does not try to soften the blow or portray it as something it isn’t. It is raw, painful, and realistic. Peter Greene, who plays Peter in the movie, did a phenomenal job of presenting the character. He preserved the harsh truth of the struggle schizophrenic people go through on a daily basis. Additionally, the sound design in this movie messes with one’s head; it forces you to be inside Peter’s head and hear life the way he does. It is insufferable at times, but it is an artistic touch that makes this movie all the more authentic and impactful.
Girl, Interrupted (Borderline Personality Disorder)
This movie is based on the memoir of the American writer Susana Kaysen. It tells her experience inside the mental institution she was admitted to after a suicide attempt. Susana comes across a lot of other troubled young women there, one of whom is called Lisa.
Susana was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, people with BPD argued that she might have been misdiagnosed. They pointed out that Lisa, played by Angelina Jolie, is a far more accurate depiction of people with borderline personality disorder, as her traits resonated more with them.
On the other hand, the movie captures a dark period of history concerning women’s mental health. It showcases how BPD patients, especially women, could be treated poorly by professionals because of the nature of their symptoms. They are ignored and are not given any chance to have any say in their treatment. They are villainized and guilt-tripped simply for struggling with their mental health.
Eighth Grade (Anxiety)
The movie follows 13-year-old Kayla during her last days as a middle schooler. She is finally sealing her eighth-grade year with all its excruciating memories.
This movie encapsulates the social anxiety and crippling insecurities that a teenager experiences at this age. It does not try to romanticize or downplay any aspect of it. It simply lets the characters unravel the reality of these feelings, and they do so so wonderfully that you’d find yourself uncomfortable watching some scenes. It is a raw and realistic depiction of the alienation and internal hardships one could go through in this transitional phase of their life.
Some people argue that films are not required to have a totally accurate depiction of mental illnesses because they should not be a reference for people to educate themselves about these disorders. However, this is unfortunately the case. Many people could pick up the wrong notions about mental health due to the poor representation in the movies. If one chooses to tell a story and integrate a mental illness, they have to make an effort to do it justice and remain respectful of the fact that it is not a fictional disease; it is the tormenting reality of many people out there.
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