Touched with Fire (2015) User Reviews

Not an Easy Watch But Kept Me Engaged

[larrys3 · 6/10 · 7 June 2016]

Not an easy watch, and I'm sure not for everyone, this film takes an insightful look at bipolar disorder. I will say the movie opened my eyes to a number of aspects of the illness.

Katie Holmes and Luke Kirby are both excellent in their lead roles here as Carla and Marco. They're both poets and have bipolar disorder, and while being treated at a mental hospital they form am instant chemistry. After their release, they will eventually try and start a relationship, despite all the hurdles and obstacles facing them and their parents fears and protestations.

Carla and Marco throw away their meds, believing that allowing their manic phases to thrive will enhance their creativity. However, when Carla becomes pregnant with their child, they will each have to make decisions whether to continue on the wild ride they're on or start taking their meds again and stabilize.

Filmmaker Paul Dalio. making his directorial debut here, has infused his own experiences with bipolar disorder into the movie. Plus, author and renowned psychologist Kay Jamison, who herself appears late in the film, discusses her battles with bipolar disorder with Carla and Marco. Jamison, in her book "Touched With Fire", has shown how many great artists and authors throughout history have suffered from this mental illness, including Hemingway, Tchaikovsky, Edgar Allen Poe, and Lord Byron (among many others).

All in all, as mentioned, not an easy watch and not an escape film, but the movie, despite its rough spots, kept me engaged and interested enough to want to know how it would all play out. Plus, I learned quite a lot about bipolar disorder along the way.

Moon and Sun

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 19 February 2016]

Greetings again from the darkness. We all have good days and bad. Sometimes we energetically leap from bed, while other days we barely muster the energy to push off the covers. For those who are bi-polar, those peaks and valleys are mere child's play. When "up", they often are filled with frenetic creativity and hyper-energy. When "down", life holds no purpose and the simplest daily actions are deemed impossible. Medication seems to be their only hope for "normal".

Writer-director-editor-composer Paul Dalio admits much of the story comes directly from his life and that Carla and Marco carry much of him. Katie Holmes plays Carla and Luke Kirby (Take This Waltz, 2011) plays Marco … theirs one of the few on screen meet-cutes to occur in a psychiatric hospital (not counting McMurphy and Chief). When the pendulum swings, Carla frantically scrawls out poetry based on nature and feelings. Marco is also a poet – the rapping kind – but he seems more addicted to the energy and spirit that goes with being up.

The film is really two-in-one … a star-crossed love story and a commentary on treatment (to medicate or not to medicate – that is the question). The writings and work of clinical psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison play a vital role here, and she even appears as herself in a critical scene. Carla really wants to get "right", especially when she discovers she is pregnant. Marco, on the other hand, spends much of his time trying to maintain the "high" as he finds life so much more fulfilling and interesting when not medicated. Marco uses the track record of many suspected bi-polar types as proof that greatness is near – Emily Dickinson, Tchaikovsky, and Van Gogh.

Bradley Cooper was Oscar nominated for his bi-polar role in Silver Linings Playbook, and both movies pay some attention to the challenges faced by families. Carla's parents are played by Christine Lahti and Bruce Altman, while Griffin Dunne is Marco's dad. The best intentions often fail miserably, leaving all parties feeling frustrated and emotionally distraught. The movie seems to make the argument that medication is the only real hope if a sufferer wants to live anything approaching a normal life, and it's Ms. Jamison's stated contention that medication will neither change the personality nor negatively impact creativity.

Katie Holmes offers up her best work since Pieces of April in 2000. Of course, there was a "marriage" mixed in there that stomped down her career. This role reminds that she is capable of finding the core of a deep character. Welcome back. Spike Lee is listed as a Producer here, and Mr. Dalio says Lee, who was his NYU Film School professor, encouraged him to explore this facet of his affliction. Dalio's wife Kristina Nikolova shared cinematographer duties with Alexander Stanishev.

The film, previously entitled "Mania Days", does a nice job of showing us the extremism involved with being bi-polar, as well as the challenges that come from being part of the medical field or familial support staff.

fine character study

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 3 September 2017]

Carla Lucia (Katie Holmes) is a struggling poet. Her mother Sara suggests going to check out her files at the hospital. Marco (Luke Kirby) is a borderline hoarder. His father George finds him in a mess after he stopped taking his medication. He is picked up by the cops. Carla and Marco end up in the psychiatric hospital together.

It's intriguing as a character study of these two with mental issues. It's less appealing as a romance. His troubled nature makes it more difficult. Their instability makes the movie a rambling journey. Katie Holmes provides a good performance. She doesn't have to be the cute spunky girl which allows her to stretch. There is some good work here even if it doesn't all pull together.

A realistic and non sensationalised account of bipolar patients

[Gordon-11 · 24 June 2016]

This film tells the story of a man and a woman who meet each other in a psychiatric ward in a hospital. They bond over poetry and other artistic aspects, yet they trigger each other's manic illness that naturally causes much concern to the people around them.

"Touched With Fire" is the name of a poetry book that I had to study in my GCSE English literature course. Hence, I wanted to watch this film. To my surprise, the story is very because it is real and convincing. The two bipolar patients behave exactly like what people having a relapse behaves. Their highs and lows are realistically portrayed by the director and the acting talents. When the guy proclaims his love for manic relapses, it is almost heartbreaking to watch.

It is unusual that a film can portray bipolar lives so accurately. I really like the fact that Kay Jamieson, the author of "The Unquiet Mind", has a cameo in the film as well. "Touched With Fire" is really a hidden gem.

Well-intended but falls short of compelling viewing

[paul-allaer · 6/10 · 29 February 2016]

"Touched With Fire" (original title: "Mania Days"; 2016 release; 110 min.) brings the story of Carla (played by Katie Holmes) and Marco (played by Luke Kirby). As the movie opens, we are reminded it is "Fall", and we see Carla giving a poetry reading (from her book "Faded") at a book store. Meanwhile, we see Marco arguing with his dad about the sloppy/sorry state of Marco's apartment, having decided to go not just off the grid, but "off society" altogether. It isn't long before both Carla and Marco end up in a psych ward. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this movie is written, directed, scored and co-edited by Paul Dalio, for me previously unknown. Dalio takes the real-life book "Touched With Fire" by Kay Jamison, which explores the ties (if any) between artistic genius and bipolar disorder, and weaves it into a fictional tale of two artistic-leaning people who like ships in the night find each other by happenstance, and strike a special bond (or do they?). The central question throughout the movie: is being bipolar a gift or an illness? Along the way, we see the two main performers (Holmes and Kirby, the latter reminding me physically of Mark Ruffalo) give it all they can with the material at hand. Unfortunately, while the movie is well-intended, it falls short of compelling viewing. We should be emotionally invested, but for whatever reason I wasn't for most of this. Only towards the very end did I get a sense of what-might-have-been. One of the better side aspects of the movie is the mostly minimalist score, composed by the director himself. At the very end of the movie, Dalio leaves us with this dedication: "For my wife, who shed light on this cold and dark stone", wow.

This movie was filmed in Spring 2013, and just now reaches gets a theatrical release. It's frankly a miracle it made it to the big screen at all. The movie opened this weekend at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati. The early evening screening where I saw this at was not attended very well, and I would be surprised if this sticks around for more than a week. If you have a particular interest in either the movie's subject matter or the main performers, I'd say this is worth checking out, warts and all, be it on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion regarding "Touched With Fire".

A thoughtful look at bi-polar and creativity

[blakelockett45 · 6/10 · 12 June 2016]

Katie Holmes plays a manic depressive poet named Carla who meets Marco, played by Luke Kirby, in a psychiatric hospital. Both suffering from Bipolar disorder they find a connection in poetry and alien conspiracy in their manic states. At it's center the film looks at the relationship between mania and creativity and the pros and cons of the mental illness, bipolar disorder. The strength of the film lay in it's characters and direction. Writer/director Paul Dalio creates two characters who are relatable in their humanity, even if you don't suffer from mental illness. Luke Kirby's performance is solid as well as supporting actors Christine Lahti and Griffin Dunne. Unfortunately, some faults lay in star Katie Holmes, as much as she seems to be really trying, she comes across as a little unbelievable at moments although she does perform passably. The pace is a little crooked at times but the on screen dynamic between the two stars really pulls the viewer in and lets us understand the way they see the world. six and a half stars.

Extreme

[lonely-chaotic-soul · 6/10 · 23 June 2018]

It felt like it's promoting for such kind of love. There's been times during the film where I was like "I want to experience a love like that". I rarely watch romance unless there is an idea behind it and this film was radical, a ball of energy, and actually enjoyable.

Confusing, poorly written, and pretentious

[howard.schumann · 5/10 · 23 February 2016]

First-time director Paul Dalio's Touched with Fire, originally titled Mania Days, is an honest attempt to provide insight into the illness commonly known as bipolar disorder. The film depicts how two young poets are compelled to battle parents, doctors, and the cultural consensus to maintain their relationship which is considered dangerous by the community because of their illness. The film stars Katie Holmes ("Woman in Gold") as Carla, a published poet and Luke Kirby ("Empire of Dirt") as Marco, also a poet whose rap-oriented artistry is often shared at poetry slams. After she meets with an unresponsive audience at one of her poetry readings, a frustrated and depressed Carla implores her mother Sara (Christine Lahti, "The Steps") to tell her about the origin of her disease.

Told by her mother only to take her medications and talk to her doctor, Carla signs herself into a psychiatric hospital in an attempt to read her medical records. It is there she meets Marco who is committed after displaying signs of delusions, claiming to be from another planet and predicting the apocalypse is about to happen. The incident occurs after his father, George (Griffin Dunne, "Dallas Buyer's Club") visits his apartment where he sees books strewn all over the floor, the heat turned off because bills were not paid, and Marco refusing to take his meds, convinced that they would stifle his creativity.

The two poets meet at a group therapy session and, after some predictable initial antagonism, they develop a relationship, meeting together regularly in the middle of the night. Their budding relationship, however, only seems to increase the frequency of their manic episodes and causes their families consternation. Over the protests of their parents, Marco and Carla continue their relationship when they are released from the hospital, but things get more complicated when Carla becomes pregnant and Marco still refuses to take his meds. In a cameo that feels somewhat out of place, Marco and Carla visit clinical psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison, the author of the book "Touched with Fire" who strongly suggests the advisability of their taking their prescribed medications, reassuring them that it will not affect their creative impulses.

The main thrust of the film, however, seems to offer a contradictory message. It shows the two lovers acting with exuberance as they jump into public water fountains, break into empty apartments, read each others poetry, and try to escape the police by driving their car into the water and swimming to the shore. To add to the film's mixed message, a list of famous people who ostensibly suffered from bipolar disorder is shown during the credits. The evidence that these celebrities were bipolar is left to the imagination, since none is offered and most of those listed lived before the idea of mental illness was even on the radar.

While Touched with Fire has its heart in the right place, its sincerity does not translate into a satisfying film. Kirby and Holmes have little chemistry together and much of the dialogue, when it does not consist of psychotic rants, feels awkward and barely registers on the believable scale. While the film strives for authenticity and is reflective of the director's own personal experience, it is also confusing, poorly written, and pretentious, glaring defects that, for me, stood in the way of any real emotional impact.

The only way to truly understand and appreciate this movie is if you are bipolar

[[e-mail] · 8/10 · 9 April 2017]

As much as I wish I could, it would not be fair to give this film a higher rating than I have, the reason being that I understand why it is completely impossible for the vast majority of viewers to ever find this film as moving as I do. Those of us who are members of the elite craft that Marco mentions all see this movie through a completely different lens than those who do not live every day of our lives with this thing that can be just as accurately categorized as an illness as a gift.

Paul Dalio, writer, director, editor and composer of this film, has been through the experience of being hospitalized with a manic episode and subsequently diagnosed and medicated. Using his artistic gift for film making, he has created a story that attempts to show the world what it's like to experience life with bipolar disorder. It is a very nice story that does a good job of deeply exploring the subject matter. However, although he clearly has a gift for storytelling, Dalio's attempt creates something that may be difficult or impossible for most of his audience to relate to. Those of us with bipolar have the same experience when watching this movie as the boomer generation has when watching Forrest Gump - constantly saying to ourselves, "Wow, yeah, I remember that." Everyone else sees something very different, and I could easily understand if the majority of people who see this movie either don't understand it or find it mediocre.

It may be a while before the world is really ready for this movie. Psychology is still a fairly new subject that has only been studied in depth by more than just a few people for the last sixty years or so. I do hope the day will soon come when bipolar disorder will be much better understood by everybody. If that day ever does arrive, then and only then will this movie ever become the classic that I believe it deserves to be.

Bipolar Roller Coaster

[iquine · 7/10 · 1 November 2017]

(Flash Review)

Would the art world have Van Gogh's Starry Night or any of his expressionistic works had he been medicated for his bipolar disorder? One story line of the film is does medication limit human's exceptional creativity? The other story line is can or should two people with manic depressive disorder be in a relationship? Do they end up hurting each other more than helping themselves succeed in the world? This film tries to paint a picture of how that may play out. It shows the manic emotions in many positive ways through creativity or exuberant glee and then shows the negative ways through irrational and dangerous behaviors. The male is against medication as he loves his creative manic side while the female feels it is probably the best for their lives. The two central character's parents play a key role in doing their best to help their adult children be safe and healthy. The film had very good and emotional acting supported by pretty good cinematography while the pacing and screenplay could have been improved a little for a tighter final polish.

Such high hopes, but.....

[Oracle-of-Delphi · 5/10 · 9 January 2022]

I've been waiting to see this film for a while. Because I suffer from Bipolar disorder, I was eager to see a film that accurately portrayed others who had the same mental illness. The film was an incredibly, romantic yet tragic love story, and many of the visuals were stunning. However, I don't agree with the viewers here who are saying, "This film hits the nail on the head, with Bipolar", or "Only a person with Bipolar could understand this film."

First of all, let's talk about that psych ward. I've never been in any psych ward like that....when I've checked in, I've had to check my shoelaces and hoodie at the door. But at their psych ward, they seemed to have the run of the place.....they got into the kitchen and were able to get forks! When I've been in the joint, they've collected the plastic flatware after dinner. The nurses are mysteriously absent of course, until the scene where Marco and Carla are torn apart.....and then suddenly, there are a dozen of them. There is a funny part too....somehow Marco is able to drug the one nurse that is around at night. Wow! What a place!

There is a second missed mark...I might get some blowback for this opinion. From my interpretation, it seems like Marco has Bipolar 1, like me, which can include bouts of psychosis.... Marco's not from this planet. And, it seems like Carla has Bipolar 2, which is a bit more manageable, no psychosis, hyper mania, but mostly depression. Carla is actually a published poet, in the beginning of the film, on the surface, it seems like she has her life a bit more together. So how does this relationship spark? They're both in the psych ward, theoretically Carla should be getting better, if she's taking her meds. We definitely know Marco isn't taking his. There's something missing in the scenes, depicting the beginning of their attraction. It's true, you often form bonds with the unlikeliest of people in psych wards. But, with all the supervision and rules, it's nearly impossible to get that close to someone.

The third issue....burnout. I've had several best friends who also had Bipolar. And yes, we would sometimes feed off each other's mania, but that does not last for long. The manic energy and fun will eventually turn into annoyance or arguments. I've never met two manic people who were constantly in sync. I think that is one of the worst elements that the film gets wrong about Bipolar. They romanticized Bipolar and mania too much. It's not an honest portrayal, it's fantasy. A relationship between two people with Bipolar is not a Thelma and Louise....we're in total agreement to drive this car into the river...best friends forever kind of relationship. On the contrary, many people lose friends and family, because of this illness. Bipolar is a rollercoaster, and when you are up, your bestie with Bipolar may be flying down the hump, about to crash.

A realistic portrayal

[mingsphinx · 8/10 · 12 November 2016]

Love and mania and the love of mania -- these are some of the powerful themes explored in this gritty movie about bipolar states of being. The fine script inspired solid performances from the lead and supporting cast alike. They wanted to make this movie and gave it everything they had to tease out the difficult material that was presented in this film. It will probably not be to everyone's taste but if you are looking for a movie that challenges you to examine what society calls 'mental illness' and how that label affects those thus labeled and the difficult relationships that these people have with those who love them most, "Touched with Fire" is definitely a show that you want to check out.

It would be too depressing to make a movie that hews too close to reality when it comes to the bipolar mind because an unwatchable tragedy just seems inevitable; "Touched with Fire" takes the audience close to where they would turn away but manages to inject enough hope to keep you going. And that is the central tension in the film -- a glimmer of hope when all appears to be lost. Many people would disagree and say that this picture is too depressing, but I tend to think that these people want movies to narcotize them with a massive dose of feel-goodism.

Otherwise, for the few grown ups out there, this movie is worthy of your time.

"Realistic" portrayal of bipolar disorder

[juuliasimoes · 6/10 · 26 September 2023]

Trigger warning: if you are bipolar only watch this is you are stable enough to handle it.

As a bipolar myself, I belive it is impossible to portray any mental illness in film realistically and make a person without any disorder understand 1% of what we go through. That being said, I relate to a lot of actions and feelings of the two main characters, having said the same phrases they use multiple times throughout my life.

The main problem I have with the film is that it does not portray the horrors of being at a psychiatric hospital: the despair, the loss of sense of humanity and the insane rules you have to follow in order not to be sedated and abused. This film tried to convince me two patients were allowed to leave their beds at night and spend time at the art room unsupervised. Rooms are usually checked every 30 minutes and they will sedate you if you are not asleep.

Very valuable if you have a loved one who is bipolar.

Van Gogh, Top member of the Bi-Polar club.....

[FlashCallahan · 5/10 · 16 August 2016]

It's hard to give a positive review of a film, where all of the characters depicted are rather horrible people, especially during the final third of the film.

But it has good intentions, the director is trying to express his life experiences on screen, so you cannot help but show a little empathy toward the main character and his struggles.

Two poets with bipolar disorder meet in a psychiatric facility, and embark on a passionate artistic partnership.....

From the upstart, the film oozes pretentiousness from every one of it's cinematic pores, and although the film does show slight signs of humour, it's a very depressing affair that shouts doom and gloom for its duration.

Kirby plays the Bi-polar Romeo to Holmes' Juliet, and when they are not waxing art/philosophy, they are getting hassle from their parents about what they should and shouldn't do....several times during the film.

It gets to the point where you want to climb into the scene and tell the parents to let them get on with it. Yes, there are a couple of instances where they endanger their lives (the highlight of the film), but as the film progresses, their illness begins to alleviate, so antagonising the two would only exacerbate things wouldn't they? Holmes is great, and it's a wonder why she isn't in more films, she carries the film, even if she delivers the biggest insult in the final third, and this is where the film fails.

Spoilers ahead.......

Holmes appears to get better, and return to a form of normality. So what would be the best thing to do? Anybody would stand by their man, as they have had first hand knowledge into his illness, and identify traits associated with it.

Nope, she leaves the first chance she gets, and then they release a book together.

And this is what ruined the film for me. She is such a caring person for the majority of the film, and for her own selfish reasons, decides to uproot and go. Yes, there maybe a chance that his behaviour could 'reignite' her illness, but isn't where true love conquers all? Or can't people with mental health problems have true love? the final act really vexed me, and guess what, the family come back and kick him while he's down....yet again.

Although it's very well acted, and has a dream, almost Vanilla Sky-esque feel to it, the final third just ruins it.

Acting Makes It Worthwhile

[princessleah-597-208494 · 4 July 2016]

Wow. How did I miss hearing about this movie? In the past, Katie Holmes has been hit and miss with her acting mainly due to miscasting, but here she is spot on---watch closely. Great to see her giving a masterful performance. The acting alone by both Holmes and Luke Kirby kept me watching to the end. Subject matter is a bit of a downer but fascinatingly portrayed. (Although not the focus of the plot, the movie illustrates what daily lives of people suffering from manic-depressive disorder can be like, both from trying to hold down jobs to their uncontrollable thirst for highs. And the movie succeeds in showing how even psychologically unbalanced individuals are able to fall in love.) It's the best movie on manic-depressive disorder since 'Mr. Jones' (Richard Gere, Lena Olin--which I also highly recommend for the acting!). I hope Holmes is recognized for her excellent work here.

A thin line between creative and crazy

[subxerogravity · 6/10 · 2 April 2016]

Touched With Fire is a story based on the real life story of the director,Paul Dalio, ironically I think this is the reason why the movie seems to wrap up so neatly.

From the point of view of the film, manic-depressive is something certain people have that make them express emotion on a deeper level. It does not come off as dangerous at all in the film considering the film is about two poets who suffer form it

The movie is not convincing at ail that it's dangerous to be guided by your emotions, on one level it seems like that's exactly what the filmmaker wants you to take away, but certain points in the film make me uncertain.

One point that does come across really well is the idea that two people who seem so right for each other, are in fact the exact opposite.

It's a great strangely done romantic comedy about two people who are fighting the world alone, until they found each other. It was very passionate.

Katie Holmes was good in the movie too.

But it still bothers me that the movie does a lackluster job in having a firm foot on the illness these two carry. Weather positive or negative, I did not get the point.

Potential of a powerful story wasted

[kearin_g · 7/10 · 9 July 2017]

Touched with Fire was a whirlwind of a film to watch. Although it had its brief moments that pumped its audience with adrenaline, the story dragged for the rest of the show time.

The film centers around two writers suffering from an episode of the condition they both share: bipolar disorder. They meet as patients in the psych hospital they are being treated at. Carla is a mysterious and quiet poet who is tricked into committing herself into the hospital by her psychiatrist. Marco- a rebellious songwriter- is committed against his will after a night of mania and foolish acts. As the two attempt to accept their treatment, they grow a bond that widens their hearts but threatens their mental health.

The performances was probably one of the aspects of the film that boosted the film's quality, but Katie Holmes acts more like she is high on drug which has the purpose to release you of stress rather than a sufferer of bipolar. Although many praised her performance in the feature, I found it lifeless and tedious. Luke Kirby shines as Marco and portrays both the aggressive and humane aspects of his character. His performance brought out the accurate feelings, sorrows and artistic abilities of a bipolar sufferer.

One of my problems with the film was that the plot was disorganized and many events that occurred didn't seem to match the puzzle of the story.There was certain repetition of each event and many 'Romeo and Juliet' moments. These moments included the parents of both characters telling them they couldn't be together, them running away , being found and the cycle occurring a few more times.

Despite the disorganized plot, Touched With Fire does display bipolar disorder to a superb degree. The characters are written accurately and aren't displayed by any false stereotypical means.

Touched with Fire is worth watching due to the important message it spreads about an illness everyone thinks they know-but they really don't.

7 out of 10 stars.

Not Bad...I Guess

[redrobin62-321-207311 · 6/10 · 10 June 2021]

Generally speaking, pulling off these types of mental health films are difficult because you want it to be realistic without being overblown or contrite. "Touched With Fire" works because, IIRC, the writer/director has Bipolar I Disorder. As someone living with Bipolar Disorder, i could identify with both characters, from the mountainous highs to abysmal lows. I'm not delusional like them, though, so there may also actually be a touch of schizophrenia there. Nevertheless, I thought the writing was pretty good as well as the acting. Of course, being a Hollywood film, they just had to have a nice, happy bow-tie around the ending. "Silver Linings Playbook" was supposed to be about a man with Bipolar Disorder. If it was, the audience never saw it. They were exposed to his schizophrenia, yeah, but not the highs and lows of Bipolar. In that sense, "Touched With Fire" was more accurate. Recommended.

Stop, Drop, and Roll away from this movie

[kz917-1 · 3/10 · 23 April 2017]

Ugh. Good actors. Great idea to really put the viewer into the manic emotions that the characters are experiencing. Something never quite clicked. I enjoyed the backstory involving Van Gogh's Starry Night - but that was about it. At the end I'm still confused - did the movie start at the end? So many questions. I think though, that may have been part of the point to confuse...

Honest, beautiful, heartbreaking

[eeva-pusa · 8/10 · 6 August 2016]

Touched With Fire, definitely not an easy watch at times, tells the story of two young poets falling in love while battling bipolar disorder.

The cinematography can only be described as breathtaking, and the same could be said about the soundtrack. This film was truly a joy for the eyes and the ears. Katie Holmes and Luke Kirby were fantastic as the two patients, poets, lovers. The only thing that felt a bit off was the story - it felt slightly confusing at times, maybe moving a little fast?

It might have felt like something was missing from the story, but the honesty and realness made up for it. Definitely worth the watch - while being a visual treat, Touched With Fire also opened my eyes to completely new aspects of mental illness.

Godsend

[saprokes · 10/10 · 29 March 2017]

For 20 years I have been conflicted with the validity of being diagnosed bi-polar. By chance, I caught this film on TV. I didn't see much connection while I watched it, but the next morning, I started thinking about the movie and my past experiences/difficulties,and I started crying. It was a near perfect match being that I am more manic than depressive and the movie shows what bi-polar mania looks on someone. It was refreshing to be able to relate. I have since excepted my diagnosis, because I now know it to be true inside myself.

TOUCHED WITH FIRE movie 2015

[k-symeo · 10/10 · 25 November 2017]

i just saw the movie ..and i can deeply relate.. We're often told love is a form of madness.. and its true..BPD are people with third degree burns over 90% of their bodies. Lacking emotional skin, they feel agony at the slightest touch or movement.Having Borderline feels like eternal Hell. Never knowing how they going to feel from one minute to the next. Hurting because they hurt those people who they love.It is hard to be accused of manipulation when really it's a scream for love Believe me its hard to be in love with with a BPD person there are able to instantly drop all their feelings for somebody who meant the world to them moments before..] ..i can relate..i have been there.. They can crush your insides every time with cruel words and behavior .. but you know deep down they love you.. more than anyone else who's ever loved you ..

An Effective Portrayal of The Lives Bipolar People Face

[eric262003 · 9/10 · 19 January 2020]

In one of the more stunning scenes in "Touched with Fire" Marco (Luke Kirby) shows a picture to fellow bipolar partner Carla (Katie Holmes) about what the world means to him when he's off his medication. The picture is fresh off of a page from a generic medical book that features the inner brain of a person diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but to them it a collage of bright and flamboyant colours of blue, red, and violet. And while Carla and Marco make it their mission and statements to go against the doctor's orders to get off their medication, they both feel that it will likely hinder their talent and deprive them of their freedom of expression. Carla and Marco are both very upbeat and artistic being that Carla is a poet and Marco is a rapper/conspirator who both look at their illnesses as a gift and that their manic ways helps solidify their ambitions in life. With many great artists from the past, most them were without a question asked have found their talents by way of madness. From the likes of Vincent Van Gogh to Emily Dickerson these talented artisans have managed to create some the greatest works of art while being struck with a relatively unknown at the time manic that wasn't uncovered.

The film was greatly inspired by a well known psychologist and expert in the field of bipolar disorder Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison who also makes a cameo in the movie. Her 1996 novel examines the many artists who became famous in spite of having this setback and that there's always a shining light in a dark circle of our lives. Such names thrown in the mix are Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner and Virginia Woolf. But it's Van Gogh who Carla and Marco seek comfort from especially with his masterpiece "A Starry Night" with the twinkling stars that shows more vibrancy than any person with sanity could understand.

Though it might be wrong to judge people for who they fall in love with, but from a first impression standpoint, Carla and Marco may not be right for each other. The duo seem to go wild when together and their paths are frequently through both passion and at times to the brink of being a bit self-destructive, The love is alive very much, but not always a healthy one in spite of defying doctor's orders and the bickering they have with their parents. When off their medication they're free-spirited, but their creative juices seem to come alive. When on their medication they are more serene but seem restless and withdrawn. When not on their medication, they may feel at ease, but their ethical ways get them into a lot of trouble and causes heartbreak to the specialists watching over them and the people who love them like their parents.

Carla and Marco both feel they know what's right for themselves and feel that those trying to help them are actually taking away the things they are passionate about. This dynamic duo both feel bored with the rules and restrictions that our planet has for us and through Van Gogh's painting, they see the symbolism that no sane person can observe.

Though billed as a romantic drama, "Touched with Fire" is actually a character study of people who are diagnosed with bipolar and the subject matter was handled with care under the director Paul Dalio who shares his experience seen through the leading characters. One of the great things about this movie is that it looks into each issue in a neutral stance being that it looks at the good and bad about having a mental illness and never does it try to fully sympathize or demonize the people and health care professionals who love and care for these two troubled souls. A slight weakness to the story is some scenes feel too heavy-handed at times and Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison's cameo gets to be a bit like a fragment taken from something seen on the Discovery Health channel.

Holmes and Kirby are really into their performances and they pull it off flawlessly which isn't an easy task by far. They both go to tremendous lengths to give the viewers a better understanding of the complexities bipolar people face and they ensure that the characters and situations are all authentic.Even the physical aspects of this duo share a blend of range, and nuance. Often times this movie might compare to the Mark Ruffalo starring film "Infinitely Polar Bear" that also focuses on a character going through the emotional stress of having bipolar disorder.

Though still inferior to "Infinitely Polar Bear", it lacks the emotional stages and that The Bear's path is followed through by it's well-balanced comedy and drama. Instead it paints a realistic look at the condition and takes its subject matter very seriously and sensitively. Aside from the people diagnosed with this illness it shows the lingering effects it also has on the people who love them and those who want to help. And sure we may want to tell their parents to back away from them and not to stand in the way of their relationship, we still can understand what they're going through and why they might feel that way. The parent that touches me the most Christine Lathi as Carla's mother Sara who's loving care is a saviour who wants to feel for what's right for her daughter regardless if she takes her medication. She might come off as the only shining light of optimsim here.

Ridiculous low rating reflects superficiality of society

[jp-scheffer · 9/10 · 9 May 2019]

I mean, come on! This film is a realistic and confronting, yet poetic and philosophical exploration of the challenges, problems and abuses eccentric, gifted people face in a society that is prejudiced and hostile against what it perceives as strange and threatening, because it fears what it reflects back, and this film shows the full tragedy of this cruel denial and rejection, but also the great beauty of authenticity, creativity and courage, for which it deserves a lot more recognition and appreciation than it got, so from me it gets a 9/10 rating.

Bipolar

[btreakle · 8/10 · 12 May 2020]

Beautiful romantic story about two young people with bipolar disorder that in spite of their disease found a way to find love.