Bundle of Blues

A quarter of an hour isn't a lot of time to cover postpartum depression, but the three testimonials offered up in Bundle of Blues should convince anyone that the “baby blues” can be a devastating medical problem requiring serious intervention. After relating a few pertinent facts (i.e., postpartum mood disorders may affect up to one in five women) and noting the risk factors (personal or family history of depression, anxiety, social isolation, poor support, or past traumatic events), filmmaker Serena Down simply lets the three interviewees do the talking: Janice describes how her depression came upon her suddenly (“out of nowhere, I felt like a freight train came through the house”) with immediate physical manifestations (loss of motor control, nausea), followed by panic attacks and morbid thoughts. In Monique's case, her depression built up slowly and steadily, but she delayed seeking the help she needed. Both women eventually took medication to combat their depression. The third interview is with Thomas, whose wife Carol showed signs of depression after a difficult birth and recovery, yet neither he nor the professionals they consulted realized she had become suicidal until she hanged herself. A handful of photographs and brief snippets of footage of interviewees in their homes, at work, or in therapy sessions help to round out this short but instructive portrait of postpartum depression. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (A. Cantú)