#1 Infinitely Polar Bear

Spoiler alert! This movie has nothing to do with actual polar bears!

This is by far my absolute favorite, hands down. Maybe because it shows the struggle of a man trying to be a father while fighting a life-changing disorder. Maybe because the mother has to leave her daughters with a man she's not sure she can trust so she can go to college and provide a better life for her children. One thing is for certain, though, it's my favorite because it's based on a true story. It's an honest look into a family dynamic that is greatly affected by a mental illness and about love that transcends the stigma surrounding bipolar disorder. Life is hard, but true strength is built in adversity and overcoming.

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#2 Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook has nothing to do with the beach, but it does have a lot to do with looking for the silver linings in life. Sunrises and sunsets at the beach are some of mine, but enough about me, let's talk about the movie. This one is not based on a true story, but definitely captures the complexity of bipolar disorder, the family dynamic, and the relational challenges that come with the disorder. Bradley Cooper plays Pat, a middle-aged schoolteacher diagnosed with bipolar disorder after beating up the man his wife is having an affair with. He spends 8 months in a facility, only to be released into the care of his elderly and difficult mother and father, resetting the life he thought he knew. While trying to win his wife back, he meets a woman with similar mental health issues, adding another layer to an already difficult adjustment. Not only is this movie entertaining, but it captures some of the raw feelings and situations accompanying a bipolar diagnosis.

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#3 Touched With Fire

This movie is about finding love in an unusual place, the psychiatric hospital. The two main characters, Carla and Marco, through their initial antagonism of each other, begin to form a relationship against their doctor's and parent's better judgment. Both are creative poets and seem to feed off each other's manic state. As with most creatives, their views and opinions are unique and tend to clash. Carla wants to discover more about her illness, while Marco accepts it as part of who he is. Katie Holmes truly brings out the beauty and horror associated with bipolar disorder.

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