Mental Awareness Today Reviews The Top 10 Documentaries and Films About Bipolar Disorder

The Top 10 Documentaries About Bipolar Disorder

(Top 10 in our opinion, anyway).

Bipolar disorder is a complex mental illness that can be particularly challenging to understand. That's where mental awareness today comes in. We've reviewed the top 10 documentaries about bipolar disorder and recommend three to watch. In no particular order of rank, each of these films provides valuable information that can help you better understand this mental illness. Not only that, but they can also change your life if you're living with bipolar disorder or know someone who is. Whether you're new to the topic or have been touched by it in some way, these films are sure to provide an interesting and informative look into one of the world's most misunderstood mental health conditions. Finally, don't forget to share these documentaries with your family and friends - they could benefit from knowing more about bipolar disorder as well.

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON (Documentary)

Daniel Johnston is a man who has had mental issues his entire life. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teenager and he's been in and out of institutions ever since. This film is eye opening, enlightening, and moving because it brings light to the fact that mental illness can affect anyone at any time, no matter how successful they are or how well-known they are in their field. The documentary shows Daniel Johnston playing his guitar while talking about himself being manic depressive genius musician/artist who overcame adversity after years of living on the streets before becoming famous and an inspiration for artists such as Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth,and even the Dead Milkmen. Jeff Feuerzeig's documentary really takes you through many stages of Daniel's life and is highly recommended. (Daniel Johnston passed away in 2019 at age 58).

A SUMMER IN THE CAGE (Documentary)

A Summer in the Cage is a very important documentary that offers and insightful and moving story about bipolar disorder. The film follows Sam for seven years as he suffers delusional manic episodes, battles paralyzing depressions, and tries to escape the legacy of his bipolar father who committed suicide. He also deals with drug addiction which causes him to make poor decisions during his manic states. This movie provides you with valuable insight into this disease and it will definitely change your perspective on mental illness.

UP/DOWN (Documentary)

This is a very helpful film about bipolar disorder. It's great to see the information presented in an honest and open way, which many people with mental health issues are not exposed to. The film gives you all the necessary facts that can help you understand this condition better, including where it comes from and how long it lasts for. The movie also provides practical advice on what steps can be taken towards getting rid of your symptoms as soon as possible if they are severe enough or even prevent them altogether.

THE DARK HORSE (Movie)

The Dark Horse is a movie that shows the true meaning of life. The story is based on Genesis Potini, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia at an early age. He was also a chess player and graduated from high school in New Zealand. His mental health deteriorates as he ages and he becomes violent towards his family members including his mother, brother, sister-in-law and wife among others; this causes him to be institutionalized where he plays chess against himself to calm down before ultimately going insane after being released back into society without the proper support system for someone suffering from these mental illnesses like those depicted in the film. This film depicts how it's not easy living with such conditions but how you can still live your life despite such challenges.

BIPOLARIZED (Documentary)

The movie is about the director Ross McKenzie and his struggle with bipolar disorder. It's based on real events and it's very well done. In the film you learn that there are people who have been through what Ross has gone through in this documentary, which gives us a more human side of mental illness than we usually see in movies or television shows (where characters often seem like they're living out their own delusions). This is an important thing to recognize because it helps viewers realize that not everyone who suffers from mental illness will be violent or dangerous as depicted by some media outlets, but many individuals suffering from such illnesses do so quietly without causing any harm to others around them.

RIDE THE TIGER (Documentary)

Ride the Tiger is a film which focuses on raising awareness for this disorder, speaking with many highly accomplished individuals including congressmen, attorneys, pastors, authors and stay-at-home moms who have all been diagnosed as bipolar. We learn how people are affected by such mood disorders. The information presented in the film was very helpful to me because I knew nothing about bipolar disorder before watching it. It educated me in depth about what it means to be mentally ill and why being mentally ill can be so painful to deal with everyday life.

ANDY IRONS: KISSED BY GOD (Documentary)

This documentary on Andy Irons was an incredible watch. The film takes a very personal look at bipolar disorder, and shows how the illness can affect anyone regardless of profession or background. I really enjoyed this film because it showed that everyone has their own battle to fight with mental health issues whether they be depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. It is important for people to realize that there are more people out there who suffer from these illnesses than we think and it's OKAY to talk about it!

OF TWO MINDS (Movie)

This is a realistic moving and well written movie about schizophrenia anchored by two fine acting performances. Tammy Blanchard is totally convincing as a mentally ill person in an illuminating follow up to her more sensational "Sybil" performance. Kristin Davis is sympathetic as her sister who cares for her after the death of their mother.

STEPHEN FRY: THE SECRET LIFE OF A MANIC DEPRESSIVE (Documentary)

The documentary is excellent. It's very interesting and it shows Stephen Fry in a new light. He seems so intelligent and well-spoken when you watch him on TV, but this documentary gives us an insight into the man behind the words. He talks about his depression, his drug use as a young man to cope with his illness, love of "bitter" things (the show that inspired him to write The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive), and how he deals with fame now. His struggles are real and they will inspire you!

S P I R A L (Documentary)

Of course we are biased here, but we feel this film should join the ranks of hard-hitting documentaries about bipolar disorder and mental illness. S P I R A L is a rare and shocking documentary by Two-Time Oscar Winner Bill Guttentag, voiced by actress Michelle Trachtenberg, with music by Grammy-winning composer David Kahne. What began as an unbound love story would grow to become a real life "War Of The Roses" revealed by secret recordings captured as emerging undiagnosed mental illness spirals out of control. SPIRAL is a rare & shocking documentary where the filmmakers were able to show the complete story using only raw unedited home video footage, diaries and letters. There are NO sit down interviews allowing viewers to be immersed in what it's like to go through the Spiral of a mental health issue. ​This dramatic story reveals what it's like to live with someone you love who is transforming into a destructive stranger.

FILM TRAILER:

Any of these films is bound to provide deeper insights into a disease that hits families hard. Of particular interest is the focus on adults living with or expressing their mental illness over time. A lack of children and teen-based films and documentaries shows a market need for more exploration, stories, and solutions for the younger generation of humans dealing with an even more pressure-driven life in a society fraught with trauma, peril, injustice, and lack of adequate support.

We hope this will change in the near future, and encourage creatives to fill this mental illness and mental wellness gap. Sign up for our newsletter for updates!