Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Ortiz Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

moonspinner55 Rather extraordinary, unexpectedly rich documentary of Evan Perry, a peculiar, bipolar young boy from a prosperous New York home who harbored a fascination with death at an early age, eventually committing suicide in 2005 at age 15 by jumping from a window in his apartment building. As directed by his mother Dana Perry, with photography by father Hart Perry, this film would seem to be an unrelieved downer from the outset (beginning with home movies from "a happier time", leading into interviews from understandably shaken relatives). But, as the material is vividly laid out, we learn a great deal more about this strange kid other than his preoccupation with dying (we pretty much watch him grow up through photographs and video footage, starting with Evan post-birth in the hospital room). The child's family and teachers--and one amusingly looped, exasperated psychiatrist straight out of a Paul Mazursky comedy--recount their dealings with Evan in succinct fashion, and there's even a surprising highlight: a grade school play about death, written by Evan, which features better acting by the students than what we get in most television shows. A deeply-felt journey, moving and thoughtful, and yet with a tough core. *** from ****

Emme Nix I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Though I saw it last year, I still can't get it out of my mind. It shows the hardships of dealing with a child with a mental disorder, yet shows it in such a way that you are left going "Wow, that was absolutely beautiful" instead of rolling your eyes. I rarely cry during a film, but this did it for me. Like others said, it did provide more than just the parent's and the family's points of view, because when someone takes their own life, it does affect everyone around them and not just immediate family. I liked how the director, Evan's mother, went into detail with the possible cause of his obsession with suicide (his uncle's own self-inflicted fate), the whole documentary was very real and down to earth. It did leave you with many emotions. For me, the first was grief. Grief because I felt like I had gotten to know this boy over the 92 moments I had been watching his life, his childhood. Then I felt frustration. Frustration for how this boy was getting all of this medical and mental help without getting better. Lastly, there was anger. I immediately blamed his physicians for his death. Doctors and therapists who have dealt with depression victims before should know the signs of thoughts of suicide. When he asked to be taken off the Lithium, they should have been suspicious, not just give him the o.k. But those are my personal views, and this is about the film. I can say that I doubt I'll ever be so moved by a documentary again, this piece of work will make you hug whoever else may be in the room and tell them you love them.

filmscribe Heart wrenching film very well done by parents who have lived through THE WORST thing that could happen From the surface this child could not have had a better life. Well off, attentive parents, and had all the advantages. Yet he could not get past the darkness inside him. So chilling that he manifested these behaviors at such an early age.To the commentator who was critical of the psychiatrist....you cant assume all bi-polar people have the same experience. Im glad you know some who have managed to lead normal lives and respond to medication and therapy. but I personally know of two bipolar people, early 30s, both highly educated, who are unable to function as independent adults because of bipolar disorder. They have both had solid access to medical attention. I think sometimes the disorder is just too heavy. I think also there are personality traits outside the bipolar disorder that are specific to some individuals which exaggerate or enhance the challenges.

palebluedusk Having just watched "Boy Interrupted" I am left with a deep ache in my heart. What a profoundly moving story of a life which ended way too soon. My heart goes out to Evan Scott Perry's loved ones as well as to all the friends and families of those who have lost someone special.The movie was painful to watch, yet calmly compelling and well crafted. The care taken to create this professional, elegant piece is further testament to the absolute love and commitment his family had to Evan. I hope the making of this film eulogy has aided the family in their grieving process.Now I feel compelled to address some issues that arose while watching the film. The doctor who treated Evan seems a bit peculiar and I have some legitimate concerns over his treatment. Dr. Ladd Spiegel treated Evan for 10 years. When interviewed, Dr. Spiegel proclaims "I never knew Evan very well." Upon reviewing his notes, the doctor does not have many positive or sensitive things to say about Evan, referring to him as "the scariest kid I've ever seen in my life."If being "scary"was one of Evan's childhood characteristics, it pales in comparison to his attributes. Throughout the film we are treated to charming video footage of Evan. I feel I got to know him a little and came to like him a lot. He was an exceptional child and was growing into an articulate,successful young man.As Dana Perry narrates her son's life, we learn that just months before Evan's suicide he was weaned from the prescription he had been on since childhood. The doctor agrees to a trial of 4-6 weeks to wean the boy from 1200 mg of Lithium. This is an exceptionally short time period for tapering off a strong mood stabilizer. These are powerful drugs which affect the chemistry of the body and brain. Pharmaceutical companies claim these drugs cannot be addictive hence do not cause withdrawal symptoms, yet they warn to taper off very slowly under close physician supervision.Dr. Spiegel's assertion that Evan was seemingly cured of bipolar disorder upon his rapid lowering of the lithium dose contradicts everything else the doctor states about Evan's condition. This suicidal boy who was once "the scariest kid I've ever seen" suddenly "seemed fine." Then the doctor acts shocked and surprised at how quickly Evan takes his life after quitting the medication. Finally Dr. Spielgel fires his most nasty defense. He defines bipolar disorder as "our cancer" in psychiatry.My own doctor prescribed a small dose of Zoloft for mild depression for about 2 years. Last year, with my doctor's approval I decided to taper off the drug. At the time I felt stable and happy and saw no reason to continue taking it. The result: cried like a baby for two weeks and hardly made it to work. Though I have never been suicidal, I felt hopeless and empty for the next 2 months. I cannot imagine the extent of symptoms had I taken the drug in my formative years and my body and mind had literally developed while taking it.Most likely I should have seen a therapist during my transition off Zoloft. My M.D. did not even suggest it. Tragically, the doctors we trust to help our loved ones and ourselves with mental health issues are sometimes lacking. We have seen several celebrity deaths of late that might have been avoided had doctors been engaged in monitoring their clients' drug intake.I'm not a medical practitioner and don't claim to know the correct approach to treating bipolar disorder. I do know someone who lives with the condition. He manages a healthy life through psychotherapy, medication and nutrition. Not all persons afflicted with the disorder are so fortunate.However, bipolar disorder is not a cancer. That kind of thinking is fatalistic. People living with BPD need doctors who are optimistic, attentive, extremely cautious and devoted to healing. Perhaps the "cancer" in this situation was the incompetence of a doctor who viewed the disorder as a fatal disease rather than a treatable condition.There is no sense wondering how things might have played out differently for Evan Scott Perry. Brightly, his life was documented, thanks to his loving parents, and his memory will live on to remind us how precious life is.