word of advice : This article deals with the topic of anxiety and other genial health subjects . It may be actuate for some readers .
WhenJohn GreenwroteTurtles All the Way Down, he didn’t see how it could be adapted for the screen. UnlikeThe Fault in Our StarsandPaper Towns, he didn’t know ifTurtles All the Way Down,which deals with complex mental health issues, would translate to another medium with ease.
Turtles All the Way Downis a 2017 novel that explores the psyche of Aza Holmes, a 16-year-old girl who’s struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and an anxiety disorder. Over the course of Green’s book, he uses spiralling, first-person, run-on sentences to convey Holmes’ panic attacks. He also uses italics to symbolise her intrusive thoughts.
Green has lived most of his life with OCD and anxiety, and he wanted to convey his mental health experiences in a way that felt honest and realistic. Speaking with BuzzFeed Australia, Green said he wanted to “challenge” himself to provide the reader with an understanding of what OCD actually is, rather than “what it’s like”.
However, Green’s depiction of OCD is so entrenched in run-on sentences, italics, and a first-person perspective that he couldn’t see how it would translate to the screen.
But these worries melted away for Green when he met with the director Hannah Marks. Beyond directingTurtles All the Way Down, Marks is best known for her directorial debut,After Everything, a story that depicts a young person dealing with a rare type of bone cancer.
Soon, Green was advocating for Marks to direct a theatrical version ofTurtles All the Way Down, with the caveat that Green would retain creative control of how OCD would be portrayed in the film. For Marks, this scenario was a dream come true.
All of this brings us to 2024, the year that theTurtles All the Way Downfilm is premiering.Turtles All the Way DownstarsIsabela Merced(Growing Up Fisher) as Aza Holmes, withFelix Mallard(Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) playing love interest, Davis Pickett.
As a team, Marks, Merced, Mallard, and Green did a phenomenal job of conveying OCD in a visual medium.
Despite his initial doubts, Green is thrilled with the final film, and is particularly impressed with Mallard.
Green was also impressed with how the team handled the moments that surrounded his dive into Aza’s intrusive thoughts and panic attacks. There’s a lot of joy and laughter that can be found inTurtles All the Way Down. While Aza has OCD and an anxiety disorder, these illnesses don’t always define her life.
“The truth of living with illness, with chronic mental illness, as I do, is that it’s hard,” Green said.
Marks is also pleased that her adaptation of Turtles All the Way Down contains a multifaceted depiction of mental illness.
Turtles All the Way Downis streaming onBINGEfrom 2 May.
If this article brings up any issues for you or anyone you hump , or you think you may be experiencing depression or need support with your genial health , please reach your general practitioner or in Australia , contactLifeline(13 11 14),Kids Helpline(1800 55 1800 ) orBeyond Blue(1300 22 4636 ) , all of which provide trained counselor you may talk with 24/7 .
