An intense and beautiful take on mental health that deals with its subject matter with tact and respect. In a world where mental health in film is so often overly-trivialised or simply ignored, it's refreshing to see a piece that accurately represents the everyday anxiety and uncertainty that comes with such problems.More specifically, however, it's a very tragic story of protagonist Bill slowly losing his grip on reality. As such the film is presented in a manner that often feels like the unfocused ramblings of a man lost in his own thoughts. Bill regales us with memories within memories, memories that are perhaps inaccurate and memories that may even be entirely fabricated. The way the unreliable narrator method of storytelling is used throughout is extremely effective, and although it may feel a little confusing or disjointed at times it all comes together wonderfully in a way that feels thoughtful and very well-considered.An incredibly unique piece of art that any amount of description can't really do justice. One of my favourite things to sit down and watch whenever I'm feeling down or uncertain or if I simply want to get lost in thought. Guaranteed to leave a lasting impact if given the time and attention it deserves.

This is the story of Bill, an unassuming and lonely stick figure. His mundane life takes a turn for the worst when Don Hertzfeldt's signature craziness takes over and Bill's world spirals out of control. If you know Hertzfeldt's work, you know this film will have some episodes of freaky comedy that comes from way out in left field, with occasional grotesque monstrosities and dark wit. Some of these scenes make the film humorous and intriguing. It does a lot more though -- the film gradually becomes nuttier and nuttier, until it becomes a sobering reflection on human frailty and mortality.But that's not the end of it. The second chapter kicks in, digging up more of Bill's past and future. Then there's the third chapter, which gives a remarkable upswing and tells a story of Bill having a reawakening. At this stage, the film becomes an inspiring and artistic narrative, suggesting that the human spirit transcends space and time.The entirety of It's Such a Beautiful Day is a complete narrative that chronicles one man's life and drags the audience through all the ups and downs of his suffering. It leads to a wonderful payoff that illustrates the beauty of life and gives hope in the face of death.You might think a movie with stick figure people wouldn't be elegant, but this film is a complex piece of art that incorporates minimalist drawings with raw photography and other real-life elements to paint a composite picture. It is especially notable when the film draws certain lines between the reality Bill sees and the reality he discovers, made apparent when more real-life footage is used at the end. In short, a lot of work went into bringing these stick figures to life, but the world around them is truly vivid. Voice acting and sounds are wonderful and highly effective. The music is quite uplifting as well.It's funny at times, bleak in others, and there are crazy parts. But it delivers a cathartic experience with emotional themes that can resonate with everybody. It's a movie that tells you no matter what you're going through, everything will be okay in the end. People are wonderful. It is such a beautiful universe.5/5

I ran across this on Netflix and thought "wow, this guy won an award for drawing stick men?" So I watched it with a disdainful bit of envy at first, being an aspiring visual artist. While watching, I was disturbed by the subject matter and the obviously unhinged and intentionally melancholy atmosphere. I watched it in pieces, the first part during a bout of insomnia, the second with my girlfriend after drinking three spiced rum and ginger ale on the rocks, and the last part this morning when I woke up early. I am not sure how to describe this piece, is it genius or sadistic? It basically does make you really think about things. I already do that a lot, so I am compelled to wonder if this film really impacted me the way it was intended to. The main Character, Bill, really seems a bit like he isn't self aware at all. I guess there are some redeeming qualities this film maker needed to share about life from the perspective of disorientation. My final conclusion? Don't watch this bit of film making unless you want to feel disengaged from humanity and disillusioned by mixed feelings about the meaning of life. It is definitely a film making experience, just not one I am sure I would recommend.

When I sat down to watch this, I had never heard of Don Hertzfeldt, the genius behind "It's Such a Beautiful Day." Since then, I've watched every single film he has made at least three times. This film changed the way I look at art; film, music and literal art, in the form of paintings. It is truly incredible. Hertzfeldt's animation style in one of the best in the industry, and has now become my favourite. The story that is told in the series of shorts will make you laugh, cry and consider why you are even living. The way that the simple animation style is composited on screen is unique, and also works seeing as it is told from Bill's perspective. The main character, Bill, is a lonely, confused stickman, who suffers from depression and a mental disorder. The things he dreams up or the hallucinations he sees show Hertzfeldt's absurd humour, which will confuse you and also make you laugh. The questions that he asks will stay in your head for a very long time. The fact that this masterpiece was produced entirely one person with no help from computers makes the film stand out even more.I don't know whether I'll ever watch a film the same again.