About this Short Film
What happens when a diagnosis shapes how others interpret your emotions? In this short film, Viola Sunrise reflects on living with bipolar disorder and the challenges of being understood on her own terms. Listen explores the difference between being heard and being truly listened to, and the connection and belonging that can grow in community from genuine understanding.
Film Details
Country:
Australia
State:
Western Australia
Category:
Open Entrant Documentaries
Genre:
Informational
Festival Year:
2026
Filmmaker:
Jane Byrne
Film Transcript
Day one. Someone has died. Do I have the right to feel emotion? Yes.
Day two. I want a job. I love my job. I could lose my job. Do I have the right to feel emotion? Yes.
Day three. A relationship has ended. Do I have the right to feel emotion?
Are you okay?
When people know I'm bipolar, interaction is diagnosed. People stop listening and start jumping to conclusions. If I'm happy, it's bipolar. If I'm sad, it's bipolar. Sometimes I laugh loudly because something is genuinely funny. Now, even laughter is under the lens. It can be exhausting being misunderstood. It's all human experience. Sometimes it's simply felt more deeply. It becomes harder to express myself and feel comfortable doing so. I want simply to be. There must be room for humanity. Listen, I need a translator. We all want to be understood. I found my voice with music and community who listen.
G. That's it. Okay. So, and the instrumentals after the second verse, we're thinking yes. Take it from the top of the chorus from "I am going to be fine." I reckon you're going to get a good recording out of that. Whenever you're ready. One, two, three, four. Heat.
Filmmaker
Jane Byrne is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Jane Byrne.
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1 comment
Hear, hear! I live with Bipolar too, and couldn’t express the heart of the matter any more succinctly. This film works to debunk stigma and tell the world we too are just humans.