I found Unrest gripping from start to finish; it is a film everyone should see. The film’s director and focus, Jennifer Brea, is a promising, newly married Harvard PhD graduate who is suddenly struck down by ME, and her life fundamentally transformed. It is a story of suffering, of courage and of determination – truly inspiring. It describes ME, commonly called chronic fatigue syndrome. Because science cannot explain it adequately, and because it mainly affects women, it has historically been put down to female hysteria, and even laziness. Even in the 21st Century, the treatment of ME patients belongs in the middle ages. ME research funding is negligible, and medicine has very few answers. It is important for more people to be aware of the effects of this tragic disease and put pressure to increase research funding.
The British Council will show the film over the coming months, if you would like to organise a showing in your school or university, do let us know.
See the trailer here.