I have heard patients describing depression as a dark cloud that hangs over the head. There are also periods of intense sadness and spontaneous bursts of crying for no reason. Depression is a harrowing mental condition that saps one's energy, motivation and will to do anything useful.
It is said that 'depression is an inability to construct a future'. I would suggest that this is so because of the extreme preoccupation with the past events that occurs in depression, although it is not always necessary for depression to occur as a result of past adverse events.
Patients also experience negative automatic thoughts such as dichotomous or black-and-white thinking, that is, everybody/everything viewed as being either good or bad.
Low self-esteem, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness and the ominous threat of suicidal ideas further compound the problem.
Bodily symptoms such as loss of appetite leading to weight loss, sleep disturbance often presenting as early morning awakening, and loss of libido/menstruation are often present.
Credits
Featuring: Aadya Pawar
Writing/Direction/Editing: Deepak Pawar
In this silent short film on depression, I have attempted to depict these very signs and symptoms in a young person, although depression can occur at any age. I hope medical/paramedical students will find this video useful in identifying the clinical features of depression.
I have experimented with colour tones, imagery, sound and pacing to symbolize the bleakness, misery and desolation that go with depression.
The purpose of this video is not to scare you, but to motivate you to seek timely professional intervention. Treatment in the form of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy/counselling ensures that depression can be treated and controlled.
Please don't forget to rate/review Bleak on IMDb.
Film festival selections for Bleak:
1. Lift-Off Global Network First-Time Filmmakers Sessions:
https://liftoff.network/ft-filmmaker-sessions-may-2022/
