I’ll admit it (and even admitted it to director Matthew Wagner)—if I hear a film described with terms like “water sports” or “outdoor adventure,” my interest almost instantly wanes. I only tuned into When Hope Breaks Through because it was billed as a mental health film and entered into a mental health film festival. As I steeled myself to watch it, I was surprised to find myself sucked in and continually riveted by the story of Mike Shoreman, a man with a physical disability who still managed to cross all five Great Lakes by paddleboard.
You might ask, then, where the mental health angle comes in. In this story, the physical struggle is literally and metaphorically part of the mental struggle. Mike being restored by the sunrise after paddling for grueling hours out on the water all night is symbolic of how hope rises after the long, dark fight of mental health challenges in life. This journey across the Great Lakes was part of a campaign to raise funds for better mental health programs for youth. The campaign was inspired by Mike’s own troubled childhood, the suicide attempt facilitated by the onset of his disability, and his recovery and desire not to have any youth have to experience what he did.
Matthew Wagner has said Mike Shoreman was adamant about making mental health the goal of the movie. That’s why he included some interviews from mental health professionals as well as Mike’s own vulnerable story. Mike’s journey shows that tenacity, surrounding yourself with a team, and pushing yourself when you think you can’t keep going will sometimes carry you through to the sun rising on a new day.
I will admit, as well, that not all films in this festival have a broad appeal. I really think When Hope Breaks Through has broad audience appeal. You should watch it and share it, not just because it’s a compelling adventure story, but because its ultimate goal is to advocate for mental health. Trust me, even if, like me, you recoil from tags like “sports, outdoors adventure, boating,” it’s not what you think it is—and you might be surprised when you get hooked on the anecdotes along the journey’s way.
When Hope Breaks Through is now playing in the Features section of the virtual festival here: https://watch.eventive.org/mentalfilmness2023/play/6519bd3219acf20047edcfa5
Watch it and then watch the Mental Filmness interview with director Matthew Wagner here: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/876570712
Matthew’s interview and all other recorded interviews are also available on the virtual festival site here: https://mentalfilmness2023.eventive.org/interviews
