Unrest

Unrest is a spellbinding masterpiece of storytelling, art, and social injustice commentary. Filmmaker Jennifer Brea brilliantly combines hypnotizing visuals, captivating music, and interweaving plot threads to engross the audience and masterfully accomplish what every good artwork should: profound and lasting emotion that spurs its audience to think, feel, and act in new ways. Indeed, and amazingly in a single film, Unrest evokes profound sadness, crushing frustration, mad fury, and finally hopeful epiphany that through this film and its social justice campaign, moviegoers can change the world — not just for the benefit of ME patients, but also for the benefit of the world.

I am one of the millions missing, but one who is not bedridden, and I can still work, though at a much diminished capacity. Jennifer's attempt to describe her life and her illness is much needed. I was in tears as she described the difficulty of getting a diagnosis. When I got sick 25 years ago, it took me 6 years to be diagnosed. I was hoping that diagnosis was a little further along than it apparently is in the medical community. That was a major disappointment for me. I wish she had talked more about the cognitive issues. Yes, ME is physical, but the brain fog, the inability to concentrate or stay on task, the disorganization that came with the condition, the struggle to perform cognitive tasks that were once easy (reading maps, remembering how to get somewhere you should be able to, forgetting appointments, short-term memory problems, etc. etc), all add another layer to an otherwise debilitating condition. My accolades for Jennifer for the supernatural strength and commitment it required to put together a great snapshot of our shared nightmares.

My brain doesn't work as well as it once did, so I hope you'll forgive me for being blunt. This film has been a remarkable gift for the millions of people suffering from the debilitating and almost entirely ignored disease ME/CFS. It humanizes our suffering in a way that has somehow never been done in film before. And it lays out in very simple terms the decades (or even centuries) of prejudice and ignorance that has marooned us here.

At the heart of the film are the true stories of a handful of people with severe ME/CFS, people trapped in their beds for days or for years, some unable to bear even minimal human contact.

I know this hasn't been the most coherent review...so often people with ME/CFS don't say anything because we can't say it well. Watch the movie, you'll get it.

There were so many times during this film that I cried. It's not just about Brea and her husband; there are several other ME/CFS patients you get familiar with, all unique and relateable people. You get to see the variety of ME life. Not just who they are now but who they used to be when they were free to design their life as they wanted.

It's never directly stated but the contrast of old home movies of the patients and voiceovers about scepticism... clearly these people were happy & driven before they got sick. They don't look like people who were headed to a nervous breakdown or other hypochondria. They seem to be energetic, driven, happy people. The idea that ME is a psychosomatic issue is shown to be nonsense.

As a spoonie I laughed to recognize a dozen or so "miracle cures" Brea tries that I've tried too. Awkward moments she had that I've had too (and felt like I was the only weirdo on earth to go through it). For anyone with chronic illness it's a validating movie, seeing that we're not alone.

I think this movie would be a great way for someone who is acquainted with a spoonie but not close enough to them to see their 24/7 life. Cousins, coworkers, classmates... this could help them understand. I think it would be a great addition to any class on disability discrimination, like to teach medical professionals or social workers to put themselves in the shoes of a sick person.

Brea and her guy are a very sweet couple, heartwarmingly devoted. And they're very educated & charming & good looking. It's easy to watch them discuss their life. The message of the film may be a downer but these folks and their friends are so lovable it's actually mostly pleasant to spend the time "with" them. Please don't avoid this movie because you think it will be depressing. It's a fascinating and exciting show, packed with information and very intimate moments. What I was left with was respect for the disabled, desire to see justice for those abandoned by the healthcare system (the research budget for ME is ridiculously small compared to other less life-ruining illnesses!!)... I feel stronger and more motivated to be a good citizen, after watching this. Not depressed, inspired.

No longer silent and hidden, "Unrest" effectively, artistically, and beautifully brings the topic of ME/CFS out into the open for all to see.

First-time director and patient Jen Brea presents the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, demonstrating the full reality of this complex disease. The severity and seriousness of the illness is conveyed, along with moments of grace, humor, resilience, and cinematographic artistry. In addition, the trajectory of ME/CFS is historically explained and includes interviews with prominent researchers in the field in order to provide the audience with the scientific underpinnings of the illness.

I recommend this film not only for patients with ME/CFS but for anyone who loves the cinema. "Unrest" stands alone on its own merits as an interesting, well-made documentary. It is also enlightening for those who suffer from related illnesses, as the experiences portrayed in the film can be quite similar.