Good drama

Rating: 7/10 (23 June 2004)

Not having had any mental issues myself nor having had a close relationship with anyone suffering such issues, I can't speak for how realistic a presentation of such this movie is. I can, being a teenager and having had a few good friends who are also teenagers, confirm that many of us do think about suicide every now and again. I think this movie was a good idea. It's good that there are movies that can show people how mental issues are, and how it is to spend time at a hospital, supposedly being treated for them. Now, I still can't verify the level of truth involved in the story in this film, but as far as I understand, it's based on a book, and I've been told that it's a fairly good adaption, too. The plot is good, it moves back and forth between different situations and times, especially in the beginning, and I think this was a pretty good way to show how you see the world if you have a mental sickness, and, as far as I know, that's a very precise way to depict it. The acting is great, each of the cast members do a good, convincing job of portraying their respective characters. The characters are well-written, credible and real. They are all sufficiently different both in behavior and in which mental illness they suffer. A pretty good drama, that will most likely appeal to any teenager who's ever thought about or seriously considered suicide. I recommend this to fans of dramas, people who the subject appeals to, either on a personal or professional level, and every single teenager out there who feels they are alone in feeling bad. I can imagine that it will affect them greatly. 7/10