Infinitely Polar Bear (2014)

A father struggling with bipolar disorder tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited daughters, who don't make the overwhelming task any easier.

Director:

Maya Forbes

Writer:

Maya Forbes

Stars:

Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Ruffalo	...	Cam Stuart
Zoe Saldana	...	Maggie Stuart
Imogene Wolodarsky	...	Amelia Stuart
Ashley Aufderheide	...	Faith Stuart
Nekhebet Kum Juch	...	Kim
Manoah Angelo	...	Thurgood
Muriel Gould	...	Gaga
Tod Randolph	...	Ruth-Ann
Beth Dixon	...	Pauline Stuart
Keir Dullea	...	Murray Stuart
Georgia Lyman	...	Becca
Paul Elias	...	Dick
Chris Papavasiliou	...	Mr. Fabrini
Patrick Shea	...	Business Man 1
Liam McNeill	...	Young Man 1

Storyline

In the late 1970s, in Boston, the bipolar Cameron "Cam" Stuart lives with his wife Maggie and their daughters Amelia and Faith in an isolated house in the countryside. When Cam is fired from his job, he has a mental breakdown and Maggie is forced to institutionalize him. When he is released, he moves to a small apartment while Maggie works to support the children. She decides to apply to an MBA program to improve her income and she is accepted by Columbia University in New York. She asks Cam to take care of the girls for eighteen months and he agrees despite his fears. Maggie moves to New York and Cam is responsible for Amelia and Faith's education. Will the scheme work?

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Plot Keywords:

crepe | machete | columbia university | rent controlled apartment | lithium | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes family is the best medicine.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on Maya Forbes' childhood with her sister. Her sister China sings the song "The Northern Line" over the end credits.

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Goofs

At the 00:09:43 mark, there is a scene with Cam and Maggie in the kitchen. Cam is in the process of making crepes that go from unfolded to folded and back to unfolded again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Amelia Stuart: [narrating] My father was diagnosed manic depressive in 1967. He'd been going around Cambridge in a fake beard calling himself Jesus John Harvard. When he got better, he started working in public television in Boston. He met my mother there. He walked up and took her picture. On their first date, he took her on a driving tour of New England and told her all about his nervous breakdowns. She didn't care. She said it was a crazy time. Half the people they knew were going bananas. So ...

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Mark Ruffalo/Alan Rickman/James Taylor (2015)

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Soundtracks

Doomsday
Written by Elvis Perkins (as Elvis Brooke Perkins)
Performed by Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Courtesy of Sir Vesper Klin
Courtesy of XL Recordings, Ltd.
By arrangement with Beggars Group Media Limited

User Reviews

Great examination of bipolar disease, and how mental illness effects family!

'INFINITELY POLAR BEAR': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A comedy-drama flick, about a bipolar dad, struggling to raise his two young daughters; while his wife tries to support their family, in business school. The film was written and directed by Maya Forbes; and it's based on her own life experiences (as a young girl, with a bipolar father). The movie stars Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky and Ashley Aufderheide. It's an interesting, and well made film study; on mental illness, and how it effects loved ones.

The story takes place in late 1970s Boston. Cameron Stuart (Ruffalo) is married to Maggie; and they have two young daughters together, Amelia (Wolodarsky) and Faith (Aufderheide). When Cameron has a bipolar breakdown, he's fired from his job and put in a mental hospital. Maggie moves their daughters into a cheap apartment, in a poor part of town. When Cameron is released from the hospital, Maggie asks him to take care of their kids; while she goes to business school, in New York full time. Cameron agrees, and then struggles to maintain his sanity; while also trying to be a good father.

The film is a great examination of bipolar disease; and how mental illness effects family. Ruffalo is exceptional in the lead, and the two young girls are outstanding (as well); especially Wolodarsky, playing Forbes (as a young girl). Forbes' script is clever, and very thoughtful. Her direction is decent, but not anything too memorable. Still, it's a pretty impressive directorial debut.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/b_aLk3J5gh4

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 June 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Infinitely Polar Bear

Filming Locations:

Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$47,000, 21 June 2015

Gross USA:

$1,430,655

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,824,678

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paper Street Films, Bad Robot, KGB Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1