British filmmaker Billy Lumby is challenging the cinematic convention that links schizophrenia to violent, unpredictable rage in his feature directorial debut, “Florid.” The film, which premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival, draws inspiration from Lumby’s previous BAFTA-nominated short “Samuel-613” and his own mental health journey.
The narrative follows Jamal, a young man living in supported housing in East London who hears voices. Lumby prefers this terminology over the diagnosis of schizophrenia. The story tracks Jamal’s struggle to manage his medication while dealing with isolation and marijuana use. As he decides to stop taking his pills, the voices—particularly one tied to past family trauma—become increasingly intense.
Unlike typical horror tropes, the film avoids violent climaxes. Instead, it delivers a harrowing experience through sound design. Lead actor Jonathan Jules, known for his role in Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe,” wears earpieces on set, allowing him to hear live voice performances from actors in another room. This technique enabled Jules to react naturally, with Lumby noting the authenticity of subtle physical tics like eye twitches. Post-production was then used to augment these sounds and integrate them into the film’s overall soundscape.
Jamal experiences three distinct voices: a critical little girl representing low self-worth; a voice voiced by rapper Unknown T that fuels grandiosity and ego; and the voice of his stepfather, which spreads paranoia and distrust. Lumby cited the Hearing Voices Movement as a key influence, a philosophy that views voices as potential parts of one’s identity and history rather than merely symptoms to be suppressed by medication.
To ensure accuracy, Lumby conducted years of research into the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), shadowing social workers and visiting psychiatric wards. Jules and co-star Saskia Chana also spent time in NHS settings. Many supporting roles were filled by non-actors, including real psychiatrists and care coordinators. Claire Holman, an NHS care coordinator who plays Jamal’s care provider, helped Lumby gain access to the mental health community.
Lumby stated that healthcare professionals and individuals with lived experience were eager to participate because they felt their lives had never been properly represented on screen. Produced by Oscar-nominated producer Rupert Lloyd and Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, the film aims to raise awareness about severe mental health, which Lumby describes as the least funded area of the NHS. He hopes the film will spark debate and reduce stigma surrounding conditions that remain poorly understood by the public.
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