A guide to positive thinking

Production and year: USA, 2012 Original title: Silver Linings Playbook Genre: drama, comedy Director: David O. Russell Screenplay: David O. Russell Cast: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver Medical topic: BPD, a man’s journey back into society after leaving a psychiatric hospital and having to rebuild his life, OCD, depression Description: This film is a lighthearted and enjoyable story about the adventures of Pat (Cooper), who is released from a psychiatric hospital after 8 months of treatment. His diagnosis: "bipolar disorder with mood swings and strange thoughts triggered by severe stress." His wife has left him, and he is under a 500-foot restraining order. Pat tries to think positively and work on his mental and physical health (running in a thick sweatshirt and a trash bag...). His situation changes when he meets Tiffany (Lawrence) at a dinner party at his friend’s house. A beautiful girl who, after her husband’s death in an unfortunate accident, has completely lost her way. At first, Pat and Tiffany talk about their experiences with taking psychotropic drugs; later, they begin to grow closer and closer. As one might guess, love blossoms between them. And all of this unfolds against the backdrop of a dance competition in which they will perform together. The film offers an interesting portrayal of neurotic disorders, including BPD, from which the main character suffers. In his case, we observe particularly characteristic hypomanic episodes. Another type of disorder of this kind is OCD, from which the main character’s father (De Niro)—a huge fan of the local American football team—suffers. A positive film—as the title suggests—but somewhat tedious. Eight Oscar nominations, however, speak for themselves. It’s worth watching, if only for Jennifer Lawrence .