Broken Diamonds, with humor and irony, shines a light on a mental illness that affects millions of people and their families.

Scott Weaver (Benjamin Platt, Pitch Perfect, Dear Evan Hansen) is trying to wrap up his unsuccessful life in the US by travelling to Paris, with a dream of writing his first novel and becoming a famous writer. However, when his father passes, he only has a brief time to figure out the estate before leaving the country for good.

Days away from packing up and boarding the trans-Atlantic flight, Scott must pick up his schizophrenic sister, Cindy (Lola Kirke, Mistress America, Mozart in the Jungle) for the last viewing of their father’s body before his cremation. However, this is just the beginning of Scott’s new responsibility of being a legal guardian, as he is Cindy’s only means of making arrangements as the sole living family member. The following days are filled with Scott dealing with Cindy’s mental illness, unlike anything that he has ever experienced before, including her removal from her Halfway House residence due to her behavioral issues, taking her in as a roommate, and finding her a new and appropriate home. Along the way he is realizing her social inappropriateness and unpredictability are beyond his scope of care and understanding.

Broken Diamonds, with humor and irony,  shines a light on a mental illness that affects millions of people and their families. This film presents schizophrenia in a real and tangible way, and shows how we as a community can be more sensitive to those who are affected by it and struggling with it.

Screened in English with English subtitles.

Peter Sattler   |  U.S.A. | 2021 |  90 mins.