Manchester by the Sea and 3 Other Most Realistic Movies About Depression
These characters either experience depression themselves or help others cope with it.
Mental illnesses are still shrouded in speculation and stereotypes. From Jennifer Aniston's dramatic role to Casey Affleck's portrayal of a character with a heartbreaking history, we've collected films that depict depression in very different ways.
1. Cake, 2014
Claire suffers from PTSD after a car accident. She has chronic back pain and rarely leaves the house. She doesn't communicate with anyone. The only exception is when she attends a psychological support group meeting.
When one of the group members, Nina, commits suicide, Claire is shaken. She spends days studying the deceased's past, getting to know her husband and son, and trying to understand what pushed her to take her own life.
Claire's addiction to painkillers causes her to hallucinate; she begins to see and talk to Nina. Thus begins a witty, bitter, and emotional story about pain and healing.
2. Numb, 2007
Matthew Perry, star of Friends, was no stranger to mental illness. Sadly, the plot of this dramedy mirrors his fate.
Perry's character, Hudson, is a successful Hollywood screenwriter. However, his life is poisoned by a strange condition: he feels no emotions. It's as if he's looking at himself from the outside, seeing a sad character in another story.
He tries therapists and takes their prescribed medications, but nothing helps. Everything changes when he meets Sara, a woman who makes him feel something for the first time in years.
3. Manchester by the Sea, 2016
Plumber Lee spends his days much the same way. He is unkind to customers and drinks at the local pub. He never misses a chance to hit someone who looks at him strangely.
A letter from a notary prompts Lee to return to his hometown of Manchester. His older brother has died, making Lee the guardian of his sixteen-year-old nephew.
The teenager persuades his uncle not to leave, at least temporarily, because he is so attached to the place. Lee reluctantly agrees but shows no warmth toward the boy.
4. Ordinary People, 1980
The Jarrett family's seemingly prosperous life falls apart when their eldest son dies on Christmas Eve. The youngest son, Conrad, a teenager, ends up in a clinic after attempting suicide. He feels guilty about his brother's death. He also feels guilty about being unable to replace the deceased's parents.
Conrad has a hard time communicating with his parents, who stopped getting along after what happened. Psychotherapy sessions help Conrad understand that things will never be the same. However, this does not stop him from moving forward.