Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Ross Wilson

Release Date:

19 September 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Stephen Fry	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andy Behrman	...	Himself
Jo Brand	...	Herself
Jo Crocker	...	Herself
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Himself
Carrie Fisher	...	Herself
Griff Rhys Jones	...	Himself
Tony Slattery	...	Himself
Rick Stein	...	Himself
Robbie Williams	...	Himself

Runtime:

120 min (approx.) (2 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

IWC Media

Quotes:

Stephen Fry: As I say I don't want to kill myself, I just wouldn't mind dying. It's a terrible thing to say.

Movie Connections:

References Spider-Man (2002)

Comprehensive look on bipolar affective disorder

This is a documentary film about Stephen Fry's and other people's life with bipolar affective disorder.

I find the documentary well researched and well balanced. For example, they had various leading British psychiatrists talking about the disorder. In addition, the very different views on bipolar affective disorder in the United States were also represented. The spectrum of severity of bipolar affective disorder was represented, ranging from severe depressive episodes to manic episodes with psychosis. Various forms of treatment were touched upon. It also touched on briefly on unipolar depression to make the spectrum of mood disorder more complete.

I was the most impressed by the number of celebrities and laypeople appearing on the documentary to talk about their own experience with mental illnesses. This certainly helps to reduce the stigma attached to psychiatric illnesses.

It could easily be imagined that it must have been a painful documentary to make for Stephen Fry. I admire his courage. I certainly hope that this documentary will raise public awareness of bipolar affective disorder and reduce the stigma attached to it.