[ruby.lestrange]

I was wondering if anyone had seen "Silver Linings Playbook". I know we have a movie thread around somewhere, but I mostly wanted to address this particular film.
**Spoilers Ahead**

I felt that Jennifer Lawrence's character definitely had BPD, or at the very least, some pretty recognizable traits (even though it wasn't directly stated in the film). Her public outbursts, the way she went from one emotion to the next with whiplash speed, the pretty obvious splitting, her sensitivity to feeling rejected, her impulsive and manipulative behaviour, all screamed "BPD!" at me.

However, I thought that the character was written well, not as a caricature or a bad, nasty person. Usually, people with BPD are portrayed in a less-than-kind light, or they're over- or underplayed. This character was a whole person, not someone whose entire characterization centered on her mental illness. She had some pretty endearing qualities, and she was a character that people liked and wanted good things for. I feel like that doesn't happen often when BPD is Hollywood-i-fied.

I don't know how Lawrence was told to play her, or if she had any background on what her character's mental illness might be, but if it was BPD, then she won an Oscar for playing one of us! I found this a little thrilling. A little positive "tick" on the BPD side of things, I guess.

Anyway, that's my opinion, has anyone else seen it? What did you think?

[MissLadyRed]

I didn't think of that when I watched it (although I was a little distracted when I watched it, might have to see it again) but now you mention it, it could very well be BPD. She did show a lot of the traits, and yes i agree, she played it very well and her character was totally lovable and even beautiful. Not sure if she was meant to be BPD as such, but either way the film was really enjoyable and one of the best movies about mental illness ive seen in a while. They don't make enough of them and to this quality or without being hollywood-i-fied as you said. (So true)
I've always wanted to write a script for a film about someone with BPD and other mental illnessess. This film gave me the passion to want to write it.

[ruby.lestrange]

I agree, MissLady! There aren't enough well-made movies about mental illness. I mean, I'm sure it's difficult to cram the complexities of any given illness into an hour-and-a-half film, but I always feel like they could be a little kinder (especially to BPD! I mean, I think it's pretty unfair that one of the major film references for BPD is Glenn Close's bunny boiler in Fatal Attraction), or at least more realistic Especially in mainstream movies!

You should definitely write that screenplay! I'd go see it.