If this was supposed to be an emotional documentary it missed the mark by at least a mile. I saw almost zero emotional reaction from the family that was supposed to love him; rather entirely acting. Which at least fathoms the question did something else really happen to this poor young man. I mean my goodness. Regarding the grandmother who somehow forgot what happened the night of the boys uncle's death, really? completely bullshit, she strikes me as a completely lying bitch. I have watched a lot of real personal grief on camera, and I didn't see a bit of it here. I watched painlessly until I became angry at the complete falsehood of this work. Worthless and completely questionable!!

Dana Heinz Perry's 'Boy Interrupted' is a moving and engrossing documentary about the mental illness that took the life of her 15-year-old son, Evan. Suffering from bi-polar disorder, Evan Scott Perry committed suicide in Oct., 2005 while in the depths of a black depression. Bi-polar disorder runs in the family. Evan's uncle, Scott, who suffered from the same mental illness, took his own life in 1971 at the age of 22. Well made, compassionate, insightful, and unbearably sad, 'Boy Interrupted' is an important film. Yet, yet... There's a troubling subtext here that is largely taken for granted by the Perry family. Simply put, the Perrys are rich folks, very rich folks. They have an apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a house in the country, etc., etc., and are able to afford the best schools and--once Evan exhibits signs of madness--the very best psychiatric care and facilities that money can buy. When Scott died the family commissioned a renowned sculptor to create a special monument and Scott's brother, Hart Perry (Dana's husband and Evan's father) made a commemorative film at that time. When Evan died, the Perrys commemorated him with 'Boy Interrupted' and helped to fund a new building at one of the facilities that had treated him. These are warm, human gestures which assure that Scott and Evan will not simply vanish from the earth without a trace. But what if the afflicted Scott and Evan Perry had come from impoverished circumstances? No top shelf care. No fancy monuments. No documentary films. No kid glove treatment. Just unadulterated suffering, death, and subsequent, eternal anonymity. That's what happens to the thousands of Scotts and Evans who don't come from money. Think about that reality also.

Heart wrenching film very well done by parents who have lived through THE WORST thing that could happen From the surface this child could not have had a better life. Well off, attentive parents, and had all the advantages. Yet he could not get past the darkness inside him. So chilling that he manifested these behaviors at such an early age.To the commentator who was critical of the psychiatrist....you cant assume all bi-polar people have the same experience. Im glad you know some who have managed to lead normal lives and respond to medication and therapy. but I personally know of two bipolar people, early 30s, both highly educated, who are unable to function as independent adults because of bipolar disorder. They have both had solid access to medical attention. I think sometimes the disorder is just too heavy. I think also there are personality traits outside the bipolar disorder that are specific to some individuals which exaggerate or enhance the challenges.

Having just watched "Boy Interrupted" I am left with a deep ache in my heart. What a profoundly moving story of a life which ended way too soon. My heart goes out to Evan Scott Perry's loved ones as well as to all the friends and families of those who have lost someone special.The movie was painful to watch, yet calmly compelling and well crafted. The care taken to create this professional, elegant piece is further testament to the absolute love and commitment his family had to Evan. I hope the making of this film eulogy has aided the family in their grieving process.Now I feel compelled to address some issues that arose while watching the film. The doctor who treated Evan seems a bit peculiar and I have some legitimate concerns over his treatment. Dr. Ladd Spiegel treated Evan for 10 years. When interviewed, Dr. Spiegel proclaims "I never knew Evan very well." Upon reviewing his notes, the doctor does not have many positive or sensitive things to say about Evan, referring to him as "the scariest kid I've ever seen in my life."If being "scary"was one of Evan's childhood characteristics, it pales in comparison to his attributes. Throughout the film we are treated to charming video footage of Evan. I feel I got to know him a little and came to like him a lot. He was an exceptional child and was growing into an articulate,successful young man.As Dana Perry narrates her son's life, we learn that just months before Evan's suicide he was weaned from the prescription he had been on since childhood. The doctor agrees to a trial of 4-6 weeks to wean the boy from 1200 mg of Lithium. This is an exceptionally short time period for tapering off a strong mood stabilizer. These are powerful drugs which affect the chemistry of the body and brain. Pharmaceutical companies claim these drugs cannot be addictive hence do not cause withdrawal symptoms, yet they warn to taper off very slowly under close physician supervision.Dr. Spiegel's assertion that Evan was seemingly cured of bipolar disorder upon his rapid lowering of the lithium dose contradicts everything else the doctor states about Evan's condition. This suicidal boy who was once "the scariest kid I've ever seen" suddenly "seemed fine." Then the doctor acts shocked and surprised at how quickly Evan takes his life after quitting the medication. Finally Dr. Spielgel fires his most nasty defense. He defines bipolar disorder as "our cancer" in psychiatry.My own doctor prescribed a small dose of Zoloft for mild depression for about 2 years. Last year, with my doctor's approval I decided to taper off the drug. At the time I felt stable and happy and saw no reason to continue taking it. The result: cried like a baby for two weeks and hardly made it to work. Though I have never been suicidal, I felt hopeless and empty for the next 2 months. I cannot imagine the extent of symptoms had I taken the drug in my formative years and my body and mind had literally developed while taking it.Most likely I should have seen a therapist during my transition off Zoloft. My M.D. did not even suggest it. Tragically, the doctors we trust to help our loved ones and ourselves with mental health issues are sometimes lacking. We have seen several celebrity deaths of late that might have been avoided had doctors been engaged in monitoring their clients' drug intake.I'm not a medical practitioner and don't claim to know the correct approach to treating bipolar disorder. I do know someone who lives with the condition. He manages a healthy life through psychotherapy, medication and nutrition. Not all persons afflicted with the disorder are so fortunate.However, bipolar disorder is not a cancer. That kind of thinking is fatalistic. People living with BPD need doctors who are optimistic, attentive, extremely cautious and devoted to healing. Perhaps the "cancer" in this situation was the incompetence of a doctor who viewed the disorder as a fatal disease rather than a treatable condition.There is no sense wondering how things might have played out differently for Evan Scott Perry. Brightly, his life was documented, thanks to his loving parents, and his memory will live on to remind us how precious life is.