I think most of the featured people in his documentary have/had bipolar type 1. Some being celebrities surely made their experiences seem particularly unique, as well.

When it comes to severity of bipolar course, I think it is a matter what one is looking at. I mean, many with depression being far worse than mania do seem to have different looking disorders than if vice versa. Sad thing is that depression doesn't do as well at the box office, even though it can be particularly harsh and dangerous. Maybe mixed episodes, but not pure. I liked "Mr. Jones" because it did show his severe depression, though he was also supposed to clearly have bipolar 1 (full manias).