TOUCHED WITH FIRE

US, 2016, 103 minutes, Colour.
Katie Holmes, Luke Kirby, Christine Lahti, Griffin Dunne, Bruce Altman.
Directed by Paul Dalio.

Initially, this project was called Mania Days. It was a special project of writer-director, Paul Dalio, who based the screenplay on his own experiences of bipolar mania, time in institutions. He is also skilled at rap poetry and brings us into the action.

This is a story of Marco, alienated from his father (Griffin Dunne), resenting that his mother, also suffering mental issues, disappeared from his life. He imagines that he is an alien, is caught up focusing on the sky, moon and stars, with echoes of Van Gogh. This is also the story of Carla, a poet, living away from her concerned parents (Christine Lahti and Bruce Altman), having published a book, but concerned about what caused her bipolar situation and confronting a doctor at the institution.

This brings the two characters together, initial antagonism, leading to better understanding, leading to bonds of affection and love. They participate in night sky watching and are asked to leave the institution. They set up by themselves, go on many dates, but arouse the wariness of the parents. There is also the issue of going on and off their medication. With the confrontations, they decide to leave, stealing Carla’s mother’s car, driving across the United States, pursued by the police and then driving into a river.

Carla is pregnant and the couple set out to prepare for the birth, painting the child’s room in Van Gogh colours and design. The parents set up meetings, especially with doctors, to the anger of both Marco and Carla.

Marco is not on his medication, attacks Carla who returns to drinking. He sets up a party for her but there is a revelation that she has had an abortion.

The film comes to a conclusion a year later with the two of them coming together for a poetry book reading, appreciating each other, but then parting.

Paul Dalio studied with Spike Lee who is the executive producer of this film.

1. The title? The book by the woman who experienced bipolar, took medication, recovered and wrote the book? The meeting with Marco and Carla? (The initial title of the film, Mania Days?)

2. A sympathetic portrait of a man and a woman, bipolar? The film based on the experiences of the writer-director, his experience of illness, institutions, and the capacity for rap poetry? Dramatising his life, experience and insights?

3. The New York setting, homes and apartments, streets and landmarks? Hospital, group meetings, wards, rooms? The cross-country travel? The musical score?

4. The introduction to Marco? The effect of the bipolar condition, from another planet, obsessed with the moon and stars, with Van Gogh? His rap poetry? Ability to rap on any word? His relationship with his father, resentment about his mother’s leaving, her illness?

5. The introduction to Carla, the poetry reading, the restrained reaction? Her visit to her mother, the bonding with her mother, her mother’s concern? Her father?

6. Each of them going to see the doctor, the interviews, their condition? Marco and his commitment? Carla and her demanding her documents, self-commitment?

7. The meetings, Marco in his forthrightness, upsetting the man obsessed by the Apocalypse? Marco wanting to be direct? Carla and her reaction? Challenging him to rap? His success? His reaction to her problems, discovering the book by her?

8. The meetings, the discussions, the diagnoses of the doctor? Her explanations?

9. The growing bond between the two, the attraction, at night, out with the stars? The authorities and their reaction? Wanting to separate them?

10. Their leaving the institution? Setting up together? A future or not? The bond, the shared experiences? Leading to Carla’s pregnancy?

11. The reaction of the parents, the visits, the confrontations, the concern?

12. The couple escaping, taking the mother’s car, the lyrical drive across the countryside, the police and the pursuit, Marco driving into the river? Their escape, return to New York?

13. The setting up house, preparing for the baby, the painting of the walls in the van Gogh style? Marco and his enthusiasm, not taking his medication? Carla being careful, but then drinking? The book of poems for the baby? The argument, Marco pushing Carla, reaction? His picking up the pieces of the book?

14. The parents, arranging the meeting, their turning up, the doctors – and the couple escaping?

15. The issue of being on medication, taking it, not taking it, the repercussions?

16. Marco and the birthday party, the parents, the gift of the book, his estimation of the past, from another planet, now wanting the baby to be born in reality? Carla and the abortion? The break between the two?

17. The year later, the poetry reading, the sharing? And their parting?

18. Audience experience of the mania days, the bipolar experience, understanding, empathy, even those experiencing bipolar mania or not? Medication, cure, hope?