Happy Sad Man
Image: Grant Trebilco. Photo: Aquabumps
Happy Sad Man is many things. A portrayal of five very different men. A glimpse into what it’s like to suffer from a mental illness on a day-to-day basis. An examination of what it is to be a man.
Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey follows a war photographer, a farmer, a musical nomad, an artist and a surfer as they go about their lives, dealing with mental health issues as varied as PTSD, anxiety, depression and bipolar.
There are many heartbreaking moments, interspersed with light-hearted interludes. These are real men dealing with real life and trying to make the best of it. Awareness is increasing around men’s mental health, and the issues they face when trying to find the strength to discuss how they’re feeling. This is a film that encourages that conversation, and ensures you start asking the men in your life: are you ok?
★★★ ½
Reviewed by Lisa Seltzer
