See it at the Movies

INFINITELY POLAR BEAR

Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 7/30/15

* * *

(Poignant, funny tale of mental illness)

Mark Ruffalo stars as Cam Stuart, a married man with two young daughters who is struggling with manic depression. His wife Maggie (Zoe Saldana) is …

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See it at the Movies

INFINITELY POLAR BEAR

Posted

* * *

(Poignant, funny tale of mental illness)

Mark Ruffalo stars as Cam Stuart, a married man with two young daughters who is struggling with manic depression. His wife Maggie (Zoe Saldana) is at her wit’s end.

Cam has been fired from his job and the family has no income. Cam’s wealthy parents throw him breadcrumbs. They live in poverty in a rent-controlled apartment in Cambridge (actually filmed in Providence).

It is the ’70s, and being a black woman with two kids, a mentally ill husband and in an interracial marriage has brought their situation to a breaking point. Maggie sees the only way out is to enroll in business school and get her MBA. That means living in New York City, coming home on weekends, and trusting Cam to care for the kids during the week. Being bipolar, Cam swings from high to low as he tries to cope with the stress of raising and caring for their daughters.

We follow the family over an 18-month period, with all of their ups and downs. There are good days, and there are bad days – more bad than good. Cam tries hard, but the mood swings embarrass the kids, and they are afraid to be seen in public with him.

The movie points out the many problems of mental illness, and Ruffalo gives an amazing performance, making us feel his frustrations and limitations. One thing we know: he loves his wife and children.

You may remember the filming in Providence’s East Side, and you can catch glimpses of Moses Brown, Benefit St. and Wayland Square, but there is no direct reference to Rhode Island.

The movie is only an hour and a half long, ending abruptly with no resolution. It is rated R, with profanity, some sexual references, and Cam’s excessive smoking and drinking. We would still recommend it for mature teenagers.

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