Elias (Clint Ruben) spends his days in an open psych ward in Denmark. His well-being dangles above a dangerous gorge, his thoughts ravaged by harmful words and commands from deep within his mind. His longing for a closer relationship with his personal care nurse Solveig (Sandra Türell Henningsen) injects some positivity into his confinement, despite him cutting corners with medications that significantly impede his progress. Even though his troubles persist, Elias seizes the chance to express his feelings to Solveig when he learns that his caregiver is about to leave her position. Elias goes all out, going as far as borrowing a suit from fellow patient Patrick (Louis Bodnia Andersen), with the pressure of a ticking clock weighing heavily on his spirit.
Writer/director Alexander Saul’s Oscar-qualifying short film Lovesick is a sensitive and, quite frankly, vital slice of life from within the confines of mental health facilities. It’s not revolutionary theming when looked at objectively speaking, but Saul still manages to accomplish something impactful. Problems that Elias and other patients deal with still to this day face a general indifference from the public. Call it a lack of education, empathy, or both; Lovesick does its absolute best to bring these people closer to the audience in a way that goes far beyond generic portrayals we often see.
More than just a spotlight for the characters and the myriad of issues they must live with, it’s also a subtle critique of the institutes at large, where measures aren’t always up to the task of properly monitoring or caring for their patients, a fascinating angle that is thankfully explored here with Elias’ uneven relationship with other individuals at the same facility.
Raw and vulnerable, Ruben and Henningsen are perfectly imperfect screen partners who bring out the best in one another. The writing can feel a little too safe sometimes, and the supporting cast is a touch underutilized, but there’s no denying how much emotional power Saul is able to convey. The way the filmmakers manage to showcase this ebb and flow with a varied color palette is one of Lovesick’s most powerful attributes, matching each scene to Elias’ mood. By putting the two actors in one space and having one so indifferent to the other’s underlying intentions, tension hangs over every word, and the eventual conclusion to the saga Elias has mapped out in his head is nothing, if not bittersweet.
Alexander Saul’s Lovesick taps into the personal side of those suffering with mental health problems and emerges with a compelling story about the invisible battles they fight within themselves.
