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.

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.

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 ..