UNSPOKEN (2018) - Award Winning Short Film About Depression

To his family and friends, Johnny seems perfectly content. But behind a beautifully painted facade lies a tortured soul desperate for a way out.

Directed by Zoë Birse, Unspoken is an award-winning short film that tells the story of a young man's silent battle with depression.

Starring:
Rhys Hamlyn as Johnny
Emily Coatman as Ally
Katrina Gow as Johnny's Mother
Paul Dawber as Johnny's Father
Hannah Brooke as Johnny's Sister
Jonathan Sordello as Brother in Law
Henry Hamlyn as Nephew

Directed by Zoë Birse
Written & Produced by Shane Grubba
Cinematography & Editing by Jake Bekker
Original Score by Adam Bridges
Key Grip: Tiarna Parente
Production Assistants: Monica Bergin & Sofia Dahlgren

[zeretamallak]

It’s weird how how you can pretend your fine but then the second you’re alone it feels like everything falls apart.

[DrsFati]

Depression is like being dead, pretending to be alive. And that becomes unbearable...

[basedbari]

That clock was a nice touch because when you're depressed it feels like time has almost stopped or has become so slow

[deacon]

"I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy. Because they know what it feels like to feel absolutely worthless and they don't want anybody else to feel like that." Robin Williams <3

[TheHobby_Lobby]

The part that stood out to me personally as very relatable, was the very end. He’s happy that’s she’s there, but notice his face goes back to the same tired and blank expression. Company helps and is appreciated, but the depression is still there. So grateful to my friends who refuse to give up on me💛

[jfishinla]

As a depressed person I thought this was very well-done. It captures the feeling of looking through a dark curtain, separated from others. Also that the idea of suicide can pop into a depressed person's mind without drama and without a triggering event. It's just an idea and not a reaction to something sad or stressful. That's what makes it such a loss when someone succeeds.

[anastasiawill]

This movie especially shows that depression is something everyboy can face even if there are caring people around you

[chinyereh]

the part where he had like a visual of the girl finding him in his basement is so real and raw to me because as someone who struggles with depression the daydreaming about committing suicide and family members finding you and just imagining their reaction very often is like wow to me and it’s interesting knowing that there’s more out who do the same thing.

[elhamrafiyashaikh]

The part where he picks up the guitar and tries to play is so relatable, it's been years since I've been trying but I just can't seem to actually play/practice. It's just so hard to really do anything at all.

[epelpai]

Some people aren’t lucky enough to have someone to comfort them.

[sebastiano]

The worst is when you don't even feel sad anymore, when you just exist and the world simply is.

[bw]

From a family which has suffered from two suicides, I think a reality sometimes unspoken is that the suicide victim feels deep pain for the world and system, social life, injustices, cruelty and takes it on themselves. Yes they struggle personally as a result of this, but the collective imprint sometimes is overlooked.

[sonamnechen]

As someone with a diagnosed clinical depression This has got to be one of the best portrayal of depression. Especially the part where he just zones out and is physically present in the moment but emotionally disconnected from other people surrounded with people but still lonely

[ireneb]

The part where he goes home and just stares at the wall is literally me every single day.

[destinationunderground]

A lot of people don't know that... I'm fine, its all good, I'm ok, and it is what it is....are often someone's last words.

[chrisoakleyfx]

This was so f'ing relatable. They really nailed the experience of depression. It's not all lying in bed for days on end and being sad all the time. It's the constant feeling of greyness that hangs over everything. You can socialise, you can laugh, you can have a good time, but the greyness is always hanging overhead ready to take over as soon as those moments pass. It's feeling alone in a crowded room surrounded by friends and family. It's like wearing a mask for the rest of the world, but beneath it all you're alone and empty and not motivated to do anything constructive. And the ideas of suicide don't have to be triggered by some sad event or having a bad day, it's just a thought that pops in your head and it happens so often that it just becomes mundane, you stop being scared by your thoughts and just let them happen, and sooner or later circumstances can lead to people taking action on these thoughts. It's the thought of someone finding you and the pain you know you'd cause that keeps them as just thoughts, but all it takes is one time where the will and the means are in front of you and the thoughts of your loved ones are pushed to the side. I've felt this way for about 10 years now, and I wonder how much better life might feel and what I could accomplish if the grey wasn't there. I think I need help.

[marcof]

When he was able to make his nephew laugh and then returned to his absent expression is so real for me. It is easier to muster up happiness for children, I guess I just feel more safe with them.

Also, the beginning scenes on the couch... your body is there and you may even make some expressions to show that you're there but in all reality you're off somewhere else. It kinds feels like you're in a glass room, you can see people enjoying themselves and being present but for you the sound is muffled and you cannot truly connect. I am not sure if that made any sense but it makes sense in my mind.

Anyways, powerful short film and it was accurate to the daily life of someone battling depression.

[kdlofty]

Some people say that those who commit suicide are selfish. They're not, they're desperate, they just want the pain to stop.

[yourdepressedneighbour]

Do you ever feel lonely even though you're surrounded by a lot of people?
I do

[HappilyAnonymousGirl]

I’ve never seen depression portrayed so accurately