All Talked Out: Mental Illness and Masculinity in Genevieve Bailey's 'Happy Sad Man'

A sensitive, scintillating portrait of five Australian men's experiences of psychological struggle, Happy Sad Man sets out to contribute to the discourse surrounding mental heath, infrastructural and familial support, and gender. Yet, by placing its emphasis on confessional self-reflection and the ways in which individual testimonies line up with already-accepted narratives, the film falls short of adding dimensions to this vital conversation, writes Benjamin Riley.

Additional keywords:
PTSD, bipolar, shame, depression, suicide, war photography