Continuing today’s look at this year’s Doc Premieres: RESILIENCE, James Redford’s investigation into the connections between childhood emotional trauma and later physical illness.
Festival Section:
Documentary Premieres
Sundance Program Description:
Imagine the implications if the causes of medical conditions such as heart disease could be linked to adverse childhood experiences, also known as ACEs. That very connection is carefully explored in RESILIENCE, which sheds light on the repercussions of early life traumas. New research shows how the previously unconnected links are evident in the health outcomes of adults.
The latest film from James Redford (THE D WORD: UNDERSTANDING DYSLEXIA, 2012 Sundance Film Festival) traces the developments in the field, featuring two of the doctors who pioneered this work and the health care professionals that are running the evidence. A simple survey initiates the discussion and provides the basis for a new understanding of what our culture is facing and how to best treat families dealing with “toxic stress.” Animation and well-placed statistics punctuate the thoughtful film’s message that, now armed with this information, we can act quickly to mitigate the effects of a public health crisis.
Some Background:
Director/Producer: James Redford
In addition to THE D WORD (2012), which was renamed THE BIG PICTURE: RETHINKING DYSLEXIA for its HBO broadcast, Redford also produced the Sundance alumni doc THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS (1999), and has directed four other feature docs, including HBO’s TOXIC HOT SEAT. The son of Robert Redford, he is also the co-founder and chair of the Redford Center, a non-profit that aims to create social change through human stories related to environmental concerns.
Producer: Karen Pritzker; Co-Producer: Dana Schwartz; Supervising Producer: Brook Holston
Philanthropist Pritzker’s Seedlings Foundation is focused on supporting the physical and mental health of children and families. She has collaborated with Redford beginning with Sundance alum THE BIG PICTURE, which she also produced, and which featured her daughter Allison Schwartz. Joining her on this production is her other daughter, Dana Schwartz, who also co-produced Redford and Pritzker’s recent doc PAPER TIGERS; and Holston, who previously line produced TOXIC HOT SEAT.
Executive Producers: Karen Pritzker and Regina K Scully
Through her Artemis Rising Foundation, Scully has supported numerous Sundance docs, including this year’s NEWTOWN, MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE, UNDER THE GUN, and THE EAGLE HUNTRESS; as well as an extensive list of alumni projects that includes titles such as last year’s DREAMCATCHER, THE HUNTING GROUND, and THE MASK YOU LIVE IN.
Editor: Jen Bradwell
Bradwell has cut Redford’s previous films, including THE BIG PICTURE, TOXIC HOT SEAT, and PAPER TIGERS, as well as SXSW winners MINE and MOTHERLAND, among other projects.
Why You Should Watch:
The human capacity of resilience is at the center of several of this year’s nonfiction offerings. Redford reveals the startling physical ramifications of Toxic Stress, upending conventional wisdom and provoking serious questions about the connections between childhood abuse and neglect and adult health – and what can prevent such damage.
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the link in the first paragraph.
To experience the festival through the eyes of this year’s filmmakers, follow my Sundance filmmaker class of 2016 Twitter list.
what (not) to doc 
Pingback: “Resilience” premieres at Sundance Film Festival to sold-out houses « ACEs Too High