Manic Memoirs
Manic Memoirs is a short film that explores the complexity of mood disorders.
Can you spot bipolar disorder? What does it really mean to be bipolar?
The film shows that the disorder is not one size fits all.
A college freshman, Ana Sanchez, unsettles her peers as her racing thoughts and erratic behavior make her unaware of the unsettling effect she has on those around her. Her euphoric highs give way to the terrifying revelation that she is not ok.
bipolar
a psychiatric illness characterized by both manic and depressive episodes, or manic ones only.
aka: not “deranged” or “superhuman”
why this film matters
With Manic Memoirs, I wanted to show a more accurate portrayal of bipolar disorder and of mania on the screen. The media either makes bipolar people look absolutely deranged or makes them superhuman. These portrayals make it difficult for people who are struggling to understand what the mental illness actually is since mood disorders present differently in every person. Additionally, it was important for me to show a Latine female portrayal of mental illness on screen because more representation in mental health media leads to more acceptance and treatment for all people. Manic Memoirs breaks the mold in an effort to destigmatize bipolar disorder and mood disorders, showing the reality: disorders affects all kinds of people, even educated college students.
about the director
Francesca Gamba (she/her) is a Peruvian filmmaker with a passion for raw and impactful storytelling. Before pursuing a Film degree at Northwestern University, she attended LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts as a vocal major where she found her love for writing. At Northwestern, she has been selected for the Pritzker Pucker Studio Lab Fellowship for the promotion of mental health where she wrote and directed MANIC MEMOIRS, in an effort to show a more accurate portrayal of bipolar disorder on screen. Since the program, Francesca has also been selected for the Senior Directing Grant and is set to direct her next project early next year.
manic memoirs 