Silver Linings Playbook Analysis

The character in Silver Linings Playbook that is depicted to be mentally ill is Pat
Solitano, played by Bradley Cooper. Pat was married to a woman name Nikki. However, he discovered Nikki in the act of an affair one day, with a teacher from his own job. In a fit of rage, Pat beats Nikki’s lover. It was determined that Pat was Bipolar and was at a mental facility to get his disorder treated. In the beginning of the film, Pat is in the facility with his friend and coaxes his mother to release him after his eight months of treatment. His mother agrees and Pat moves back in with his mother and father. The illness is communicated to the audience through his placement in a facility, his one on one therapy with a psychiatrist, and his arguments with
I feel that what the film decided to depict, they did so accurately. They did not show the depressive side of Bipolar Disorder, so I believe that the elimination of it could be considered inaccurate. However, Pat was not compliant with his medication so his manic phase could have easily been drawn out as long as the film drew out. I think that they chose to depict this mental illness in this manner because the general public usually associates Bipolar Disoder with angry episodes, irritability, and agitation. We rarely think of depression when we think about Bipolar Disorder. In addition, many individuals would do what Pat did to his wife’s lover if they found out their spouse in the act of infidelity. What is to say that this was solely Pat’s undiagnosed Bipolar Disoder? He could have easily been diagnosed prior to his episode of uncontrolled rage. His character accurately represented Bipolar patient’s mannerisms and interactions. He was not sleeping, eating much, irritable, agitated, hostile, grandiose, and exhibited pressure of speech and flight of ideas. The only thing that I would say was an inaccurate representation was the fact that his therapist joined him for a football game, relinquishing his professional role. Once again, they did not depict Pat’s potential depressive episode and only focused on the aggressive aspect of Bipolar Disorder. Overall, one can say that this film did a great job at depicted this disorder and everything that comes with it – medication compliance, changes in family dynamics, changes in relationships, loss of loved ones due to fear, and even loss of occupation. It’s a culmination of effects that can only make the conditions harder for the individual to recover. We can see that with Pat and his struggle to