“Mad World” Movie Night with CandleX + Q&A with Bipolar Disorder Expert Mimi

Are people with bipolar disorder as violent as movies sometimes depict them?

After the successful first CandleX Mental Health Movie Night in February, we are hosting a March movie night focused on bipolar disorder, in response to World Bipolar Disorder Day (30th March)

Mental health, i.e. a state of emotional, social, and psychological well-being, is a topic that concerns us all—directly or indirectly—even if it is too often wrapped up in stigma and wariness. Many may feel wary of accepting others’ mental health issues, as well as of admitting one’s own struggles. However, it is precisely this ‘storytelling’ element, i.e. sharing and listening to others’ mental health stories, that helps us both empathize with other people and gain others’ empathy, thus empowering us to achieve a deeper understanding of what mental health conditions actually entail. Therefore, with the aim of breaking the silence around mental health through art and donations for CandleX, we have recently launched the CandleX Mental Health Movie Night (CMHMN) to create a space where stories can be told through movies and documentaries.

EVENT SUMMARY

6:30–7:30 pm Photo Shooting Session with Yang Media

7:30–9:00 pm “Mad World” Movie Screening

9:00–9:30 pm Q&A with Mimi (“Bipolar World”)

Movie

Mad World 一念无明 (2016)

Director: Wong Chun

Cast: Shawn Yue, Eric Tsang, Elaine Jin, Charmaine Fong

Language: Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

Duration: 111 min

IMDb: 7.3/10

Awards: Golden Horse Awards for Best New Director and Best Supporting Actress for Jin; Hong Kong Film Awards for Best New Director, Best Supporting Actress for Jin and Best Supporting Actor for Tsang

Guest Speaker and Q&A: Mimi (founder of Bipolar World) and Xiaojie (Director of CandleX)

Date/time: Saturday, 27th March 2021, 7:30 pm

Venue: Yuanliao Space人之原料重组空间 (Avotaco)

Address: 66 Fangjia Hutong, Dongcheng District 方家胡同66号

Minimum donation: 100 RMB (50 RMB for participants with income less than 10k RMB/month)

Registration: Please scan the QR code to join our Mental Health Movie Nights WeChat group and add Laura (WeChat: LauraAmaranta) for registration/donation, and to be added to the group when the QR code expires.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTO SHOOTING WITH YANG

Come early for a photo shoot with a professional photographer from Yang Media at the venue—the charming Yuanliao Space 人之原料重组空间. The dimmed light casting shadows on the artwork that embraces the open space makes Yuanliao Space a perfect spot for some unique pictures.

Time: 6:30–7:30 pm

Price: 100–150 RMB

THE MOVIE

For its second movie night, CandleX has chosen the film “Mad World” (一念无明) (2016). The movie will be screened on Saturday, 27th March, 7:30 pm at Yuanliao Space 人之原料重组空间, with both English and Chinese subtitles.

As a compassionate depiction of bipolar disorder, “Mad World” represents Wong Chun’s low-budget debut, for which he almost received an Academy Award nomination, and which rewarded him and the cast with several awards, including Best New Director and Best Supporting Actress at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards, Best Director and Best Screenplay at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the 36th Hong Kong Film Awards.

THE PLOT

Veering away from stereotypical depictions of mental health conditions—bipolar disorder, in particular—this feature film portrays the traumatic comeback of Tung, a former stockbroker, after a spell in a psychiatric hospital. Flashbacks and introspection help him navigate through a process of recovery and catharsis.

[The director] depicts the malady of intolerance and fear towards mental illness, but does not pretend there are easy remedies. Mad World is an indictment, but it is not a didactic prescription about what should or should not be done.
The Straits Times

…this story of a recovering bipolar patient is a brave piece of filmmaking
South China Morning Post

GUEST SPEAKER: LIU YUANQING 刘远晴 (MIMI 咪咪)

Mimi, the founder of the WeChat account 双相躁郁世界 (“Bipolar World”), will moderate the discussion following the screening of the selected movie, to tell us her story, debunk some false myths surrounding bipolar, and accept questions from the audience.

After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016, Liu Yuanqing—nicknamed “Mimi”—decided to launch her WeChat account “双相躁郁世界” (Bipolar World) to record her recovery journey as well as her thoughts about the world and her condition, and to share them with the world. Soon after, contributors started submitting their stories to the account, making it the result of concerted efforts and personal stories related to bipolar. With the addition of the first team member, Emilie, the team began to grow, together with its follower base.

In October 2019, Mimi started shooting the documentary “Bipolar World”, directed by Liu Xinzi. The production is ongoing.

Follow Mimi’s WeChat account “双相躁郁世界 Bipolar World”: bipolar_world