I didn't know what to make of this movie. I'd heard so much about the film, and was really looking forward to it. Being a film director, I'd just completed a short drama (Open Secrets) about mental illness, so was keen to see how this subject would receive the big screen feature length treatment.
I found the protagonist's acting first rate, and was totally immersed in his realism. But I must admit I found the plodding narrative and sudden plot twists a bit strange. For instance, he exhibited all the manic behaviour of a typical bi-polar individual, then as soon as he met the lady with the young girl in the hotel, his behaviour became charming and sensitive. I've done a lot of research into mental illness for my short film, and I know that mental patients on a 'high' do not become "normal" by simply switching their illness 'off'. Mental illness is not something that can be flicked on and off randomly by the individual concerned and yet here I found that to be the case here. The protagonist would became crazed with mania, then suddenly in the next scene he would be contrite and mellow.
Top marks to the film-makers though for a brave attempt at a difficult topic, though. The film looks beautiful, with great cinematography and editing. I felt that the script was where it could have been improved upon. Perhaps the actor's performance was improvised, in which case it was an excellent job, but still lacked narrative clarity. After about half an hour of viewing the film, I began to wonder whether I could last the entire length of the movie.
As I mentioned, I have mixed feelings about this film. On the one hand I didn't really "enjoy" the film as it has a weakish story, but on the other hand the film is a landmark because there aren't many feature length dramas about mental illness, and this one was pretty good in many respects. Overall, I was glad to have seen the film on cable TV, and not paid to see it in a cinema, as I don't really think the film fully justifies paying a ticket price.
I found the protagonist's acting first rate, and was totally immersed in his realism. But I must admit I found the plodding narrative and sudden plot twists a bit strange. For instance, he exhibited all the manic behaviour of a typical bi-polar individual, then as soon as he met the lady with the young girl in the hotel, his behaviour became charming and sensitive. I've done a lot of research into mental illness for my short film, and I know that mental patients on a 'high' do not become "normal" by simply switching their illness 'off'. Mental illness is not something that can be flicked on and off randomly by the individual concerned and yet here I found that to be the case here. The protagonist would became crazed with mania, then suddenly in the next scene he would be contrite and mellow.
Top marks to the film-makers though for a brave attempt at a difficult topic, though. The film looks beautiful, with great cinematography and editing. I felt that the script was where it could have been improved upon. Perhaps the actor's performance was improvised, in which case it was an excellent job, but still lacked narrative clarity. After about half an hour of viewing the film, I began to wonder whether I could last the entire length of the movie.
As I mentioned, I have mixed feelings about this film. On the one hand I didn't really "enjoy" the film as it has a weakish story, but on the other hand the film is a landmark because there aren't many feature length dramas about mental illness, and this one was pretty good in many respects. Overall, I was glad to have seen the film on cable TV, and not paid to see it in a cinema, as I don't really think the film fully justifies paying a ticket price.