Running From Crazy

Mariel is likely the bravest Hemingway of all. Her life growing up in the fishbowl of celebrity has had its share of tragedies and triumphs. Granddaughter of novelist Ernest Hemingway and sister of “wild child” model Margaux, she first became famous at 17 when she appeared as Woody Allen’s love interest in “Manhattan.” Part of a dysfunctional extended family that counted among them seven suicides, Mariel knew she had to work to stay sane after the paparazzi went home. She now spends her time speaking to suicide support groups and promoting techniques for personal balance and health. By frankly discussing the struggles of her own storied life – and making some unexpectedly shocking pronouncements about her family — she hopes to reduce the stigma around mental illness. This intimate portrait assures us that we can gain strength by overcoming physical and emotional challenges. Director Barbara Kopple’s RUNNING FROM CRAZY shows Mariel Hemingway to be a generous and fearless woman. Papa would have been proud. – B.B.