Friend in Me

Description

Having recently experienced a number of unexpected turns in life, Alisa is struggling with depression. Within a year, she has suffered a miscarriage, the loss of a long term relationship and has just been made redundant. With this heavy burden, Alisa becomes disengaged from social connections. Best friends Ruth, Edwina and Winnie are determined to come together to fix Alisa's problems. Their seven day attempt to cook dinner, clean her house, fix her appearance, get her job hunting and 'back on the market' are initially greatly received but soon after fail to shake Alisa's perspective. Their failed attempts lead them to a state of frustration and they take a different approach to assisting Alisa. A confrontation with the group takes a turn for the worse, a lack of understanding about depression and harsh words leaves their friendship compromised.

Biblical Connection

Friend in Me draws upon the life of Job and the dynamic with his three friends; Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar (Job 4-27). The key area I have chosen to explore and adapt is the extensive evidence of poor counseling applied by Job’s friends to his case of heart-wrenching affliction. Ruth, Edwina and Winnie embody the initial good intentions found in Job's friends to support him during his time of need. However, through a lack of understanding about depression and the misapplication of advise, they result in being bad counsel and do more harm then good. Job experiences great loss with servants, livestock and ten children all dying due to marauding invaders or natural catastrophes which leaves him in grief and depression (Job 30:16 NLT). Alisa faces a number of losses which finds her mental health compromised. The film explores the theme of friendship and mental health. It focuses on the dynamic shifts that can take place in friendships during difficult times. Friend in Me aims to educate that a one-size fit all solution to the numerous sorrows that we face is simply inadequate.