For our film study in English, the film that we will be looking at is Silver Linings Playbook directed by David O. Russell. We haven't started watching the film yet, but it's about a character named Pax who has bipolar disorder and a widow who has an unnamed mental illness (probably borderline personality disorder). USA Today has an article about an interview with Russell on his inspiration for making the film amount other things, which we had to read.
What was Russell's purpose in creating this film?
Russell has a son of his own, named Matthew, 18 at the time, that has bipolar disorder. Russell's purpose for creating this film was that he wanted to remove the stigma people have of mental illness and view bipolar disorder (and other mental illnesses) in a warmer light for people with this disorder as well as those around them.
Why is making a film about mental illness tricky?
Katrina Gay stated at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) "Making a film about mental illness is tricky: it can sensationalize, trivialize or exploit it." This means that some films may make mental illnesses seem overdramatic (and not accurate) just for views --- or the opposite and make it seem like it isn't a big deal --- or portray it unfairly just for the benefit of making money off a film. This is why it is tricky to make a film about mental illness.
Why is it important to get rid of the stigma around mental illness?
In some areas, mental illnesses aren't talked about at all, which makes stigmas about mental illnesses an issue. If a person were to see someone having a heart attack on the side of the road, they'd come rushing to help, but if they see someone with a mental illness, they will avoid them. This makes people with mental illnesses viewed as a person that has something wrong in their head, and that they are perhaps crazy. It dehumanizes them and they are no longer treated as a normal person should be; they become disconnected from society. That is why it is important to get rid of the stigma around mental illness.
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