Silver Linings Playbook Movie Analysis

The movie Silver Linings Playbook is a Hollywood portrayal of characters who are trying to deal and cope with mental illness. The movie surrounds a young man named Pat who was recently discharged from a mental hospital after spending eight months there for beating up his wife’s lover. While at the hospital, Pat was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, something that he was unaware of having. Pat was allowed to return home to his family as long as he continued his medications and weekly therapy sessions. Throughout the movie, Pat displays a new sense of well-being and optimism. He has the perception that if he fixes himself and gets in shape, he will be able to win his wife over (who got a restraining order when he was released from the hospital). But soon after returning home, Pat starts to realize that his ideation of getting his wife back is just a delusion. He ends up meeting a girl named Tiffany, who has her own personal struggles as she deals with depression and the recent death of her husband. Through the friendship of Pat and Tiffany, they begin to rely on each other for help and support and begin to help each other through their own …show more content…
The movie illustrates the symptoms of both Bipolar Disorder and Depression realistically. The severity of each illness is felt from the actor’s portrayal of each mental illness. The reality of their situation is also made known, through the use of group therapy sessions, individual therapy sessions, and a short conversation between Pat and Tiffany where they talk about the drugs they have been on and what that experience has been like. The movie also shows how difficult dealing with a mental illness can be as a family member. The movie is able to depict both the hard aspects, such as experiencing a manic episode, and the good aspects, such as days where they feel