A documentary about the life of a girl with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Chronic fatigue syndrome entered the life of the 24-year-old Harvard Ph.D student Jennifer Brea not long before her wedding. In the beginning, she was still able to attend classes, but soon she had to switch to a bed regime supported by relatives, her husband Omar Wasow, Oprah Winfrey’s consultant, founder of the Blackplanet social network, and an Internet-analyst. After a year spent in bewilderment and pain, Brea decided to make a documentary about her disease that includes her dialogues via Skype with functional disorder specialists and people whose life has also changed because of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Unrest is something in between a video diary and drama about a person who was able to adapt her life and the world around to new conditions. In 2014, The Root magazine included Jennifer in its list of 100 most influential African Americans. Her activity has also instigated the the #MEAction activist movement.
The film premiered at Sundance 2017, where it took U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing. It also noticed at the Indie Street Fest and festivals in Nashville and Sheffield.
Q&A will take place with film critic Alisa Taezhnaya after the screening.
Unrest
Director Jennifer Brea. USA, UK, 2017. 90 minutes.
12+