i don't think this accurately portrays mental illness

Being mentally ill is not just one generic label you can slap on someone. Mental illness comes in many forms. Do you care to elaborate on your post?

I don't really think of it as a film about mental illness, more a film about the descent into madness via obsession and that in itself is an interest topic, but if feels to fantasy and removed from reality as we know it, to be an accurate portrayal.

Every person who has a mental illness is different ofc, due to the fact that we are all different, with different experiences and memories. I am not sure what Nina had but it seems very much like schizophrenia, seeing things that were not real, then maybe top it with possibly depression. In other words, she was in fact severely mentally ill. This certainly doesn't help since she has a probably mentally ill mother who seems to be obsessed with her daughter. But hey I am no psychologist but my take- she is mentally ill since many years and it escalates with the stress she gets from her new role as a lead.

"I'd like to keep Spike as my pet"- Illyria, Angel S. 5

It never intended to accurately show mental illness. That wasn't the goal of the movie.

I somewhat agree. Some nuance could've certainly been applied when displaying symptoms of her mental illness. Taking someone's various mental illnesses and ramping it up to extreme power just to thrill the audience is problematic in itself.

The film is not exactly about mental illness. Yes, she is obviously not "healthy", but it is more about the obsession of being perfect in what you do and devoting yourself to a competitive, physically and mentally exhausting and challenging art. This is not rare with athletes, people in art etc. Of course this movie portrays very severe paranoia and obsession, but many people in competitive sports for example have the same struggles - trying to prove you are the best in a community where everyone is trying to do the same. It comes with the territory and while it does not seem as dark for spectators it is quite a burden.

So my understanding is that this film is not focused on the mental illness exactly. It is more about ambition. The unhealthy kind. Yes, it leads to mental issues, but that is just part of the whole picture.

Trust me, always having to prove yourself and better yourself (even when you are already at the top) can be so consuming. You forget why you love what you do, you forget to appreciate your progress, your accomplishments and you become unhappy no matter how well you do. It can lead to pretty dark places. I think the fantastic aspect of the movie portrays brilliantly how fear, paranoia can turn your biggest strengths - your talent, devotion and hard work - into your worst enemy. So..pretty dark, yeah..