What is the film about?
The experience of depression and alcoholism have left Brian’s daughter
(Amanda) relying on him for her son’s welfare. When Brian’s wife
dies and he gives the child into social care, Amanda’s world falls apart
and she and her father don’t speak for 15 years. That is until she gathers
the strength to visit him.
‘SICK’ is an atmospheric and enigmatic visualisation of people at
extremes of emotional endurance. From the tradition of trauma narrative seen
in the likes of Memento (2000), 21Grams (2004), and Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind (2004), the film examines shards of the fractured lives of a father
and daughter, each fighting in their own way to make sense of the abject isolation
of grief.
In visiting characters at breaking point, the film examines the roots of emotional
identity. For an era in which depression is at unparalleled levels, it is an
engaging, provocative and timely adventure into a vastly underrepresented facet
of modern life.
Why make this film?
Worldwide, near to a million people take their own lives each year, one every
40 seconds. More in developed nations. In the time it takes to watch the film,
that’s over 20 who will have profoundly contradicted their instinct to
survive.
Depression is known to everyone, experienced by many, but talked about by few.
Often wrongly perceived as an individual’s fault, a lack of mental fortitude,
and an emotional weakness manifest as collapse under the strain of modern living,
it seems that to admit to it is to admit to a loss of control of one’s
self. In the UK, mental illness is experienced by 1 in 4 people, and touches
the lives of many more (Mind, 2004).
It is incredible that something so prevalent should still be so unmentionable,
and that so many should suffer in silence for fear of what it means. Common
to all countries, cultures and classes, and more deadly than homicide - psychological
drama explores states of mind, and there are few more universally relevant and
dramatic than this.
Who is behind it?
Producer Christine Hartland and first time Director Mike Rymer assembled an illustrious
and award winning crew, who between them had experience on many of the UK’s
biggest films, to work with the relatively unknown cast.
Mike Rymer
WRITER/ DIRECTOR
‘SICK’ is the first film from new Writer/Director Mike
Rymer, and sees him build on grass roots industry experience. A postgraduate
of the Skillset Screen Academy Wales, Mike recently performed the role of Assistant
Director to Peter Greenaway on Nightwatching, but he hopes ‘SICK’
will bring him more directing opportunities.
Christine Hartland
PRODUCER
‘SICK’ is the fourth in a line of shorts recently produced by freelancer
Christine Hartland, and the first to be shot on 35mm. She has seen her previous
films play to a host of international festival audiences (including New York,
San Francisco and Barcelona) and win several awards (including Best film in Miami
and Best Direction at Strasbourg) as well as support from The British Council,
and distribution by Short Film Label Dazzle. Christine comes to drama production
from 10 years experience as a producer of events, film and video for clients such
as BT, Nokia, Barclays, GSK, Nestle and many more. The founder of Patchwork Productions
she now has a slate of four feature scripts in development.
Read more about the Patchwork slate here
>>
Read Christine's IMDB entry here
>>
Sam Garwood
DIRECTOR OF POHOTOGRAPHY
An accomplished focus puller on globally renowned features the likes of Buffalo
Soldiers, Birthday Girl, Shine, Wilde, and most recently on Robert De Niro’s
The Good Shepherd, Sam’s skills in the camera department are well founded.
Among his work as Director of Photography he has shot a 35mm commercial for Capcom,
and has completed several features as camera operator and 2nd Unit Director of
Photography, most recently on the BBC’s Christmas drama Dracula.
Visit Sam's website here
>>
Read Sam's IMDB entry here
>>
Matthew Gough
RE-RECORDING MIXER
Matthew has a well-established track record as an effects mixer on large-scale
Hollywood films such as The Brothers Grimm, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban and Cold Mountain (for which he received a BAFTA nomination along side
Walter Murch and Mike Prestwood-Smith). His reputation as lead mixer is growing
fast, having performed the role most recently on Anthony Minghella's Breaking
and Entering.
Visit Matthew's website here
>>
Read Matthew's IMDB entry here
>>
For all the biogs, open the full press pack here
>>.
More on depression:
- Everyone, will at some time in their life be affected by depression -- their
own or someone else's, according to Australian Government statistics. (Depression
statistics in Australia are comparable to those of the US and UK.)
- Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market for antidepressants. The rate
of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23% p.a.
- 15% of the population of most developed countries suffers severe depression.
- Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020
-- and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary
disease.
Taken from Uplift Program - read more
>>
For information on all areas of mental health concern try the fact sheets published
by England and Wales' leading mental health charity, MIND, here
>>
If you would like to talk to someone about mental health issues, Saneline is
a national mental health help line. You can visit them here
>>
Alternatively you can call, email or write to Samaritans. Visit them here
>>
lets start talking about it ..