Boy Interrupted is an HBO documentary film that takes a deep look into the life of Evan Perry, a 15-year-old boy from New York who tragically took his own life in 2005. This film was created by Evan’s parents, Dana and Hart, with the intent to explore how Evan’s battle with bipolar disorder and depression shaped his life and the lives of those around him.
Mental illness had been a part of Evan’s family for some time. His uncle had also committed suicide at age 21. When he was young, Evan was diagnosed with depression and prescribed Prozac. However, it was later determined that he suffered from bipolar depression instead, and he started taking mood stabilizers along with milieu therapy. Despite this treatment, Evan’s struggle became too much for him to handle at the age of 15 when he leapt out of his family apartment window.
Boy Interrupted provides an intimate portrait of what happened to Evan through interviews with those closest to him as well as never-before-seen footage and photographs. It is a powerful reminder to take mental health seriously, especially in the cases of young people whose battles often go unseen until it is too late. For anyone seeking to gain insight into what can happen when conditions like bipolar disorder are left untreated or misunderstood, Boy Interrupted should be watched as soon as possible.
