Touched With Fire

Stars: Katie Holmes, Luke Kirby. Edward Gelbinovich, Bruce Altman, Christine Lahti, Griffin Dunne

Director: Paul Dalio

Despite the best efforts of Holmes - who in particular does her reputation no harm - and Kirby (though they have little chemistry together), this is an unconvincingly written portrait of bipolar sufferers falling in love in a psychiatric hospital, and the inevitable obstacles they face together.

When they are released, the film gets very preachy, especially in an interlude featuring clinical psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison, on whose book (of the same title) the film is based. The frustrations and depressions of the two leading characters could have much more emotional impact in the hands of a more sensitive director, even though Dalio based much of the scenario on his own experiences.

Lahti and Altman do good work as Holmes' parents in a film that leaves you feeling an outsider to its events, rather than reaching to the heart of the matter. In a nutshell no handkerchieves are required, and that's a shame. Despite the copyright date, it was filmed in 2013.

David Quinlan

USA 2015. UK Distributor: Roadside Attractions. Colour.
101 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 1, Swearing 2.

Review date: 24 Jul 2016

DVD review