Infinitely Polar Bear 2015

In the late 1970s, Cameron Stuart, a Boston resident grappling with bipolar disorder, faces significant challenges after experiencing a psychotic break. This crisis leads to his job loss and subsequent hospitalization, thrusting his family into a difficult situation. With the burden of caring for their two young daughters, Maggie—Cameron’s devoted wife—relocates with the children to a modest, rent-controlled apartment, where she struggles to find adequate work to support her family of three.

As Cameron progresses in his rehabilitation, he transitions from a halfway house to living independently. In a bid for a brighter future, Maggie applies to various business schools, determined to secure a stable financial footing for her daughters, who are currently enrolled in a subpar school located in a troubled area. Maggie ultimately earns a scholarship to attend Columbia University, propelling her to request Cameron’s assistance in looking after their daughters while she pursues her M.B.A. in New York for eighteen months. Despite his hesitations, Cameron agrees to take on this responsibility.

The daughters are embarrassed by Cameron’s quirks—such as his late-night absences, overly friendly interactions with neighbors, and his penchant for starting numerous messy projects, which render their home nearly uninhabitable. Nonetheless, their love for their father is unwavering, and they do their best to support him through their struggles.

During one visit to see his grandmother, a wealthy Boston Brahmin who controls the family trust—a significant source of their rent—their plans take an unexpected turn. When she offers Cameron her luxurious Bentley, he instead requests financial assistance to enroll the girls in private school, but she declines his request.

As Maggie approaches graduation, there is hope for a reunion, yet Cameron reveals he has stopped taking his lithium since her departure. Meanwhile, Maggie struggles to secure an appropriate job in Boston. Thus, she decides to accept a lucrative position at E.F. Hutton & Co. in New York City, taking the girls with her for a chance at a better life.

Realizing her new job’s demands will leave her with little time for the children, Maggie makes the difficult choice to leave them with Cameron in Boston, while she sends money back to help pay for their private education. A year later, the girls are thriving in their new school, and Cameron proudly continues to care for them, fostering a sense of love and stability amidst the challenges they’ve faced.