Human Scale
Keena (21) and Matt (25) meet and become friends at a mental health treatment center. Despite having bipolar disorder, they are determined to be active participants in the world. Drawn together by their affliction, they are divided by being at different stages of the illness.
Matt was diagnosed with a combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia at age 20 and dropped out of college. After hitting rock bottom, Matt worked extremely hard to achieve mental stability. Now living in a chaotic board-and-care, he is eager to move out.
He is thrilled when he gets an interview for a job training program, but it makes him question whether or not he can cope in the "normal" world.
Keena dropped out of college soon after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She then moved to Los Angeles to work for Americorps. Problems with medication resulted in her sinking into an extreme depression and losing her job.
Only able to afford an apartment in the worst part of South Central Los Angeles, she tries to find a new place to live. As she vacillates between feeling hopeless and desperately trying to make things better for herself, she worries that she will not be able to survive her illness.
Matt, understanding Keena's situation well, does what he can to comfort her. However, as Matt moves towards achieving his goals, there is only so much he can do to help Keena, who must find her own path.
