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 When on their medication they are more serene but seem restless and withdrawn.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.
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.