There is so much to unwrap when it comes to ‘Act Normal’ even though there is only a singular line of dialogue in its entire runtime. Perhaps, that comes from the short film touching on an issue that hits home for many of us. It is indeed a credit unto itself that the film manages to convey everything it has to say without a running background track or any spoken dialogue. Of course, it does not have to. The visuals, alone, are powerful enough to bring the idea of sorrow, that lies hidden, to the foreground. At a time when things around us are completely shrouded in uncertainty, Himanee Bhatia, with her film, does more than just give us a peek into the complex issue of mental health. She, in fact, through the film, urges us to reach out and be present for those we care about.
Written by Himanee Bhatia, ‘Act Normal’ follows an unnamed woman suffering from depression. What the film manages to capture so well is the actual experience of what it is like to suffer from depression. There are no tell tale signs or overt gestures that you can glean from. For people who have to face the suffocating anxiety of what true depression is like, it is mostly a silent ordeal. Seeking help is often hard, not only due to the attached societal stigma but also because, most often, people who are suffering mentally don’t usually have an established avenue for help. Sure, therapists and psychiatrists exist. However, you really have to understand the fact that in most cases, people who are suffering from anything, be it physical or emotional pain, are not the initiators in seeking help. It is just human nature. The responsibility lies upon those closest to the person suffering to be able to recognize the symptoms. That is why communication and an open conversation about mental health is so important.
‘Act Normal’ conveys this very idea, of silent suffering, incredibly well. And it does so not through what the film actually contains but what it deliberately omits. Most of the film runs with complete silence, beside the occasional ambient sounds from a phone buzzing or a spoon clinking. This, coupled with Himanee Bhatia’s performance, is the single greatest point in the film because that truly lies at the heart of the issue of mental health. There is a greatly repressed silence surrounding the issue of mental health even now. For most people, that silence follows them everywhere, with life becoming increasingly muted around them.
Watch ‘Act Normal’ and remember to look out for the ones you care about.
