Megan's 5 Movies to Watch After Watching the Shorts

Since the shorts that we’re putting on are issue-driven, I think it’s important to highlight issue-drive films. These are the ones that I feel best relate to our shorts and the ones with which I truly empathize.

I also feel like these are the movies that most authentically address the disorders they claim to. There are far too many movies that perpetuate stigmas and portray things inaccurately and stereotypically. These however, I believe stand out from the pack and might help you as a viewer further understand what some of the characters in the shorts are going through.

Silver Linings Playbook

One of the things I like most about this movie is that it accurately represents the disorders that it tackles. Bradley Cooper’s character has bipolar disorder, something I can relate to. He struggles with it, but he genuinely wants to improve, and he finds an ally in his improvement. His father suffers from OCD, something I can relate to, but what I really love about it is that it isn’t just him obsessively washing his hands. OCD is a far more nuanced disorder, but there are few accurate portrayals of it. Many of those who have it have an almost logic about it to justify their actions and sometimes their thoughts. I also love that they roll some humor into it. Mental illness doesn’t have to be dark and twisty all the time, there are moments of levity where you can’t help but laugh

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I’ve read the book and I’ve watched the movie. I feel the book and the movie were pretty matched in terms of quality. The protagonist is a teen in high school going through the usual high school trials and tribulations, but all while suffering from depression and anxiety. That is something I can relate to. The book and movie also address suicide and sexual abuse and their role in the protagonist’s guilt and how he relates to people. Overall, it’s a deeply moving piece that I feel treats mental illness and those who suffer from it with dignity and tact.

Little Miss Sunshine

The main disorder addressed in this movie is depression and a suicide. The thing about suicide is that sometimes you come back from it. It’s a tactful and dignified portrayal of what that means and what someone goes through when they’re back leading the life they tried to leave behind for good. It’s also another movie that handles comedy woven in with tough topics like depression and suicide.

Black Swan

Natalie Portman’s character places an undue amount of pressure on herself. She is a perfectionist, something I can relate to, and she’s trying to hide just how much striving for perfection is torturing her. No one can be perfect, obviously, and Portman’s character is no exception. But when you can’t achieve that perfection, it’s only natural to be upset. Instead of lashing out, Portman directs her anger in on herself and engages in self-harm behaviors and suffers from an eating disorder. Black Swan is a masterclass in how perfection really isn’t all it appears to be and how being perfect can do more harm than good.

The Aviator

This is another one that addresses OCD, albeit a more severe form than the father in Silver Linings Playbook. It shows a darker, more intense side of OCD. Howard Hughes suffered from OCD in his real life. His was more related to germs and a more intense obsession with things and his work. It could be part of why he was so good at what he did, but it also caused his downfall. It caused him to become a recluse. This doesn’t happen with all sufferers, but The Aviator doesn’t pull any punches and doesn’t romanticize his afflictions.