My Depression: The Up and Down and Up of It 2015
Distributed by The Video Project, 145 - 9th St., Suite 102, San Francisco, CA 94103; 800-475-2638
Produced by Roz Lichter and Josh Hetzler
Directed by David Wachtenhem, Robert Marianetti, Elizabeth Swandos
DVD , color, 30 min.
General Adult
Depression, Mental Health, Social Psychology
Date Entered: 12/12/2016
Reviewed by Linda Yau, Berkeley College, Brooklyn, NYMy Depression is a whimsical film based on the book by Elizabeth Swandos, My Depression: A Picture Book (2014). It is spot on to issues of depression and its relation to urban living. Liz, the narrator, takes viewers on an internal monologue through her own experience. Depression is not a medical condition that can be cured at this time, but there are ways to treat and manage the condition, namely psychotherapy and medicine.
Filmed using the drawings from her book, Swandos’ style makes it easy for viewers to learn about a mental condition that afflicts countless numbers of people. A short documentary at 30 minutes, My Depression is suitable public library and academic library collections. This documentary has aired on HBO, and the trailer as well as additional information is available on the HBO website.