A Nova Vida de Clemence

As someone with bipolar disorder, I was shocked to see how negatively Clemence was portrayed in this movie. She appeared violent, irrational and dangerous. These are stereotypes of people with serious mental illnesses that need to stop. There are certainly highs and lows that can be unsafe, but they are not the full story. They touched on the struggles one has when trying to find the right medication mix. But there is a lot more to that story than they told. Getting stable is a horrific process and humiliating at times and very scary. This is the true story of the struggle and the courage of people with mental illness. Not that of people around them who judge and don't understand. And the preposterous promise that exercise and meditation can solve a mental disorder is total BS. It does not and never has been a solution.

Just a waste of time. Getting angry of almost all main characters, how horrible they are to others. The main character, jeez, what an absolutely horrible person. And I wasn't convinced of her little change in the end. The biggest problem of hers wasn't the bipolar issue, she just was a self-centred ahole.

Talking about the diagnosis; I'm sorry but is this normal how a diagnosis is made in USA? I can't believe it, the doctor asks two only somewhat vague questions, to which the girl answers in a very unsure way, and boom, a bipolar diagnosis is made and IMMEDIATELY heavy drugs are prescribed to her. Unbelievable. What a hack that doctor was.

Normally a girl with mental illness would just develop an eating disorder or cut herself or start a drug addiction. Not funny! In this movie however, the girl awkwardly tells everyone about her problems and generally makes everyone around her uncomfortable. She has a knack for being overly blunt, crude, and truthful. She makes poor decisions and then just goes with it and makes even worse decisions. Her life is completely messed up and she just embraces that. You can never be sure from the dialogue whether she likes or hates the person in front of her. Is this dark humor or just hilarious? You will know in the first 60 seconds if this movie is for you.

I noticed the low rating but failed to read any reviews. Mainly because I didn't care and also I'd already watched some of the movie before I went to the page. I had to make sure the brother was who I thought he was...anyway...so I thought this was a good movie! It made me laugh and made me tear up a few times. I thought the writing was so real sometimes and let's be serious more than one storyline is very real for someone somewhere! I'm guessing some people might think it made fun, or made lighten of mental illness. I still haven't read any reviews so just a guess as to the rating. I didn't see it that way at all. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the writer/director knows mental Illness first hand, this just had some very real elements as far as bi polar goes. All that aside, if it was all 100% fictional it was still good! Smart funny writing and very well cast. I haven't seen or heard of this girl in anything else but I'll be looking into that. I liked her and I liked this movie.

The Year Between is a semi-autobiographical film written, directed and starring Alex Heller as a young woman who drops out of college after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She returns to her hometown and tries to cope with her condition while reconnecting with her family and friends. The film follows her ups and downs over the course of a year, showing how she deals with medication, therapy, relationships and self-discovery.

The film is a refreshing and realistic depiction of mental illness that avoids clichés and stereotypes. Heller gives a brave and nuanced performance as the protagonist, who is not defined by her disorder but by her personality, dreams and struggles. She is supported by a strong cast of actors who play her supportive parents, loyal sister, understanding boyfriend and quirky best friend. The film also has a warm and humorous tone that balances the drama and makes the characters more relatable.

The Year Between is a heartfelt and inspiring film that shows how one can overcome challenges and find happiness in life. It is a testament to the power of love, family and friendship in times of crisis.