Watch Diary of a Mother on the Edge

Diary of a Mother on the Edge is a heart-wrenching drama that follows the story of a mother's struggle to save her daughter from the demons that threaten to destroy their lives. The film delves deep into the psyche of a mother who has to grapple with mental illness, domestic abuse, and the challenges of raising a daughter alone. Felicity Kendal delivers a mesmerizing performance as Karen, a mother who has been struggling with bipolar disorder for years. The film opens with Karen's daughter, Laura, played brilliantly by Henrietta Spink, going missing. Karen is frantic with worry, and the police don't take her seriously, dismissing her concerns as a consequence of her illness. But Karen is convinced that something has happened, and her desperate search leads her down a dark path that threatens to consume her.

As the film unfolds, we see that Karen's illness is not the only problem she has to deal with. Her husband, who had left them years ago, returns, and Karen realizes that he is still violent and abusive. Karen has to protect her daughter from him while fighting her own demons. The pressure becomes too much, and Karen's condition worsens, leading her to take drastic measures to keep her family safe.

The film is a brutal portrayal of the impact of mental illness on families. We see Karen struggling to keep her job, social life, and family together as her condition worsens. Her relationship with her daughter is strained as Laura resents her mother's erratic behavior. The film doesn't shy away from the ugly side of mental illness, showing Karen's manic episodes, paranoid delusions, and suicidal tendencies.

Henrietta Spink shines as Laura, portraying a teenager trying to understand her mother's condition while dealing with the trauma of her father's abuse. Her performance is raw and compelling, and she brings a depth to the character that makes her stand out. The scenes between Spink and Kendal are some of the film's highlights, capturing the tension and love between the two as they try to navigate their relationship.

Overall, Diary of a Mother on the Edge is a poignant and emotional film that shines a light on the challenges faced by families dealing with mental illness. The film doesn't offer easy answers or solutions but instead shows the complex and messy reality of living with a mental illness. Kendal and Spink's performances are outstanding, bringing depth and nuance to the characters and elevating the film to a new level. It's a difficult but important film that deserves to be seen.

Diary of a Mother on the Edge is a 2005 documentary with a runtime of 47 hours.