By Rishi Mulloth
Depression is an invisible affliction. It is difficult to spot because on the outside everything can seem fine, but underneath the surface there is a great deal of pain and suffering. This is what makes this disease very difficult to detect and treat. The short film Headspace peers into the mind of a young girl struggling with her own intrusive thoughts, causing her to feel helpless and alone. It begins with a girl narrating, “The most dangerous place I know is the one between my ears.” After this the girl explains how her insecurities and hateful feelings towards herself have caused her to question her self-worth and even believe she has no reason to exist at all. But she fights back against her self-hate, refusing to give in to these thoughts, the invisible enemies that need to be overcome. She ends her narration with the line, “The safest place I know is the one between my ears.” Her journey illustrates that it can be overcome, even when it seems impossible.
From director May-Lynn Le, Headspace was curated for Planet Classroom by the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY). The director does a great job of mixing powerful imagery with poetic language to illustrate her important message regarding depression and suicidal thoughts. Le also shows others that they are not alone in their feelings, that other people are struggling in the same way, and that overcoming these challenges is possible.
This is a fantastic short film that has a great story, great writing, and great directing, and delivers a powerful message that will fit well into the Planet Classroom lineup. However, this film is for a young adult audience and should be watched with discretion or with a parent because of the subject’s sensitivity and the graphic images used. The film’s message is important and will help many people, and I highly recommend it. I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Rishi Mulloth is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in film and media studies and economics, and is attending the University of Scranton for a masters degree in business analytics.
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