My Depression - The Up and Down and Up of It

Reviews and Festivals

BROADCAST ON HBO

"(A) half-hour gem. As charming and whimsical a discussion of depression as you’re likely to find. It’s honest and forthright as it talks about a condition often misunderstood and misrepresented."
— New York Times

"Uses animation and music to tell successful composer Liz Swados' personal journey through the darkness of depression and then her recovery and healing process. Every individual experience may differ but the film hopes to impart the message that those suffering from depression are not alone, and while things may seem hopeless, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel."
— The Jed Foundation

"Recommended. Humor and music lighten the serious message without seeming trivial, and the realistically hopeful outcome will comfort viewers facing similar challenges. Teens battling depression and anxiety will be comforted by this sympathetic program."
— Booklist (ALA)

“Recommended. A good overview of depression and how it may affect individuals. Uses humor to make this serious subject more accessible to a wide range of viewers. An excellent vehicle for group discussion of this serious and common condition.”
— Science Books and Films

“Recommended. My Depression reminds viewers that there is no quick fix, but often lots of hard work involving commitment to therapy, while on the road to gradually rebuilding self-esteem.”
— Video Librarian

"A well-done introduction to the topic for a high school health class or individual or group use in a counseling setting. Depicts the highs and lows of depression and doesn't shy away from describing the psychic pain of sufferers. It also attempts to combat the stigma about depression and the way people who have it are often treated.”
— School Library Journal

"A creative and effective presentation on depression uses animation and song to explore a deeply personal and often debilitating problem. It does a deft job of exploring the condition without making light of it. The film could be quite therapeutic and comforting for patients with depression and would be instructive for students and professionals training to deal with depression. ”
— Anthropology Review Database

"The approach might sound weirdly lighthearted, but it manages to stir a sense of empathy while packing in a lot of information about a disease that, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, afflicts 7 percent of adults."
— Chicago Tribune

"Through inventive animation and music, My Depression explores Swados’s lifelong struggle with depression and her efforts to keep her ‘cloud,’ as she calls it, at bay. Why, when so many people suffer from anxiety, depression, and a host of other emotional situations, is it still talked about openly so little? Swados is out to change that with her short documentary, by addressing those ups and downs, and ultimately learning to embrace all that life has to offer."
— Amy Poehler’s SmartGirls

WORLD PREMIERE
Tribeca Film Festival