Worth: $17.00
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Cast:
Marie McLeod, Hanh, Mel, Luke
Intro:
...a truly compelling watch...
For so many years (decades…centuries…), the concept of mental illness was pushed to the back of the metaphorical cupboard, and ignored, left to rot and fester away in darkness, unexplored and unaided. Now under the more encompassing and inclusive term of mental health, the subject has never been so frequently and publicly discussed. The stigma around mental health issues has largely been lifted, and while many still feel uncomfortable sharing their issues with those around them, there have never been so many options when it comes to getting help. The avenues for discussion are well and truly open, and with the advent of initiatives such as R U OK Day, those with mental health issues are not experiencing the difficulties they may have faced several years ago.
Into this now relatively safe space comes director Duy Huynh with his new documentary How To Thrive, a compelling look at the practices and philosophies of Marie McLeod, a renowned psychotherapist who seeks to turn around the lives of her patients by teaching them how to be happy. There are obvious layers of complexity running through that seemingly straightforward and simplistic therapeutic system, but that is essentially the crux of it. The film follows Marie McLeod as she leads a group of patients through a three-week course aimed at changing their thinking and shifting their lives into a more positive and forward-thinking place.
While Duy Huynh effectively sparks How To Thrive up with a series of stylised images and inventive visual flourishes, the real fascination here comes with the patients involved in Marie McLeod’s course. All extremely likeable and relatable, they’re also deeply troubled, and incredibly sympathetic. You’ll desperately want these people to find some modicum of happiness and a better way forward in their lives, which makes How To Thrive a truly compelling watch. A highly topical film with an important message, How To Thrive is both great storytelling and an affecting teaching tool.
