hari95 First of all we didn't get to see as many movies with bipolar disorder lead characters and sticking with it throughout the movie. This is the only movie i have seen that speaks about bipolar disorder. I read the movie was based on the director's experience with the disorder hence i think the movie came out really authentic It is a movie about two poets (how often u get that) whose creativity is fueled by their bipolar disorder (they believe so). They also at one point in the movie believes they are not from this planet , just like your are thinking they became extreme maniacs as long as they stay and feed off each other ideas. But to make a child and a family you have to be in the system and play within its rules. I concur with one of the review you can take away something from the movie only if you have bipolar disorder or if you any idea about the disorder. Because i didn't speak anything from our perspective (non-bipolar) rather than theirs(bipolar). the acting and the different acts and music are the beautiful tools that anyone could easily connect with this movie

kearin_g Touched with Fire was a whirlwind of a film to watch. Although it had its brief moments that pumped its audience with adrenaline, the story dragged for the rest of the show time.The film centers around two writers suffering from an episode of the condition they both share: bipolar disorder. They meet as patients in the psych hospital they are being treated at. Carla is a mysterious and quiet poet who is tricked into committing herself into the hospital by her psychiatrist. Marco- a rebellious songwriter- is committed against his will after a night of mania and foolish acts. As the two attempt to accept their treatment, they grow a bond that widens their hearts but threatens their mental health. The performances was probably one of the aspects of the film that boosted the film's quality, but Katie Holmes acts more like she is high on drug which has the purpose to release you of stress rather than a sufferer of bipolar. Although many praised her performance in the feature, I found it lifeless and tedious. Luke Kirby shines as Marco and portrays both the aggressive and humane aspects of his character. His performance brought out the accurate feelings, sorrows and artistic abilities of a bipolar sufferer.One of my problems with the film was that the plot was disorganized and many events that occurred didn't seem to match the puzzle of the story.There was certain repetition of each event and many 'Romeo and Juliet' moments. These moments included the parents of both characters telling them they couldn't be together, them running away , being found and the cycle occurring a few more times. Despite the disorganized plot, Touched With Fire does display bipolar disorder to a superb degree. The characters are written accurately and aren't displayed by any false stereotypical means.Touched with Fire is worth watching due to the important message it spreads about an illness everyone thinks they know-but they really don't.7 out of 10 stars.

kz917-1 Ugh. Good actors. Great idea to really put the viewer into the manic emotions that the characters are experiencing. Something never quite clicked. I enjoyed the backstory involving Van Gogh's Starry Night - but that was about it. At the end I'm still confused - did the movie start at the end? So many questions. I think though, that may have been part of the point to confuse...

Larry Silverstein Not an easy watch, and I'm sure not for everyone, this film takes an insightful look at bipolar disorder. I will say the movie opened my eyes to a number of aspects of the illness. Katie Holmes and Luke Kirby are both excellent in their lead roles here as Carla and Marco. They're both poets and have bipolar disorder, and while being treated at a mental hospital they form am instant chemistry. After their release, they will eventually try and start a relationship, despite all the hurdles and obstacles facing them and their parents fears and protestations.Carla and Marco throw away their meds, believing that allowing their manic phases to thrive will enhance their creativity. However, when Carla becomes pregnant with their child, they will each have to make decisions whether to continue on the wild ride they're on or start taking their meds again and stabilize.Filmmaker Paul Dalio. making his directorial debut here, has infused his own experiences with bipolar disorder into the movie. Plus, author and renowned psychologist Kay Jamison, who herself appears late in the film, discusses her battles with bipolar disorder with Carla and Marco. Jamison, in her book "Touched With Fire", has shown how many great artists and authors throughout history have suffered from this mental illness, including Hemingway, Tchaikovsky, Edgar Allen Poe, and Lord Byron (among many others).All in all, as mentioned, not an easy watch and not an escape film, but the movie, despite its rough spots, kept me engaged and interested enough to want to know how it would all play out. Plus, I learned quite a lot about bipolar disorder along the way.