Unrest

Unrest weaves together sensitively-told personal stories, history, science, and beautiful cinematography to illuminate a complex, misunderstood illness--ME/CFS. This disease has been neglected by the medical and scientific communities, not least because most of its sufferers are women, but it causes a terrible amount of suffering. The movie uses Jen Brea’s (the director) personal story, with her loving husband Omar by her side, as an anchor thread, and fleshes out our view of the disease with other personal stories, interspersed with historical and scientific background. It is masterfully and beautifully done, moving and original, with a brilliant score by Battlestar Galactica and The Walking Dead composer Bear McCreary.

So many documentaries have been made about the devastating, debilitating and much-maligned illness known as ME/CFS (aka Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). But this one finally nails it. A beautifully made and incredibly accessible account of the illness that has destroyed lives while being criminally ignored in the U.S. and around the world by the medical establishment, the government and the general public. Ms. Brea's debut film tracks her - and her husband's - personal account with the illness as well as other patients, its history and the heroic researchers trying to unlock the mystery of the illness. "Unrest" is a brilliant work of art and a powerful piece of social justice journalism. Patients and their loved ones - who suffer invisibly - hope this is the wake-up call they need to get serious funding for research and medical attention for this disease. Everyone should watch this film.

As one of the extremely lucky parents who watched her 13 year old son's life waste away for the most grueling twelve months of both our lives and then miraculously recover before it was too late, I have great admiration for what Jenn was able to accomplish - a beautiful and inspiring movie, and a testament of her inner strength and tenacity. Thank you, Jenn, for shining the light where no one had the strength to before! May ME and the lack of recognition for obscure and debilitating diseases soon become a thing of the past. May you all be as lucky as me and my son.

This film is a glimpse of how devastating this disease can be on the patient as well as the people close to them. This film is a poignant yet hauntingly beautiful and hopeful look at the human side of this misunderstood illness. Jen, her husband Omar and the other patients in this film are a testiment to the astonishing perseverance that humans are capable of. Anyone who has dealt this disease or is close to someone who has will likely be in tears. Not because of grief and loss, but because it is so moving to know that there are so many other people out there also struggling with this illness. This film has cast a long-awaited light upon this hidden affliction.

This is the story that needs to be told. It is an amazing movie on its own, a story about love, a story about loss. But, at the same time tells us the story of a mis-understood and ignored disease and the power of its suffers to fight for proper treatment and research, from the directors perspective. Please share this movie with your friends and family, as the story is not yet over, and we still have a chance to find effective treatment for a hidden and disabling disease that impacts millions worldwide, many of which are to disabled to advocate for themselves.

This was a truly exceptional documentary both in the depth in which it brought the challenges of living with ME/CFS to life for the audience and the powerful message of how prevalent and underfunded the research around this disease is. It was moving to see how Jen and Omar, as well as millions of others, deal with this disease on a daily basis and was very disappointing to see how the institutions designed to help make lives better have essentially failed those suffering from this disease. I would strongly encourage everyone to watch this and have a better understanding of what so many folks are dealing with simply have the awareness of how something so painful and debilitating can be ignored from a research and focus perspective.

There were so many moments in this film that would have left me speechless (but I try not to talk during movies). For anyone who has been touched by this terrible illness, it is essential viewing.

I’ve suffered from this illness for over 30 years. It’s complicated, isolating, and misunderstood. I’m impressed and indebted to Jennifer for making this beautiful award-winning film.

The brilliant and beautiful filmmaker’s brave telling of her personal story is an inspiring lesson in super-charging a movement of millions to do nothing short of moving a mountain. (Warning: you will fall in love with her . . . and her husband.) UNREST is an incredibly intimate and intensely engaging 90-minute immersion in the power of courage and connection to restore humanity and meaning to lives otherwise robbed by chronic illness. Good for: all kinds of people! -- feminists and the people who love them; techies who like to see the power of the internet at work for social good; movie buffs who want see a cool example of a powerful video-doc; people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and all the people (and doctors) in their lives who deserve scientific validation of this "invisible" illness; and, frankly, anyone who likes to have their heart moved, their complacency challenged, and a reminder that one person’s actions can make a difference for millions.

Jennifer Brea, who brought us #MillionsMissing, a global awareness campaign for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (formerly CFS). She is who we, those living with this disease, have been waiting for. A brilliant, brave, and deeply honest look inside the tragic losses, disbelief, and triumphs of those living unimaginable suffering.