UNREST
Jennifer Brea gives viewers a candid look at life with a debilitating and widely misunderstood medical condition.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
Sundance Program Description:
Jennifer Brea is an active Harvard PhD student about to marry the love of her life when suddenly her body starts failing her. Hoping to shed light on her strange symptoms, Jennifer grabs a camera and films the darkest moments unfolding before her eyes as she is derailed by ME (commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), a mysterious illness some still believe is “all in your head.”
In this story of love and loss, newlyweds Jennifer and Omar search for answers as they face unexpected obstacles with great heart. Often confined by her illness to the private space of her bed, Jen is moved to connect with others around the globe. Utilizing Skype, she unlocks a forgotten community with intimate portraits of four other families suffering similarly. Jennifer Brea’s wonderfully honest portrayal asks us to rethink the stigma around an illness that affects millions of people. UNREST is a vulnerable and eloquent personal documentary that is sure to hit closer to home than many could imagine.
Some Background:
Director/Producer:
This is Brea’s directorial debut, which was supported by the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program.
Producers:
This is Dryden’s first Sundance credit. She previously directed and produced the SXSW-debuting LOST AND SOUND.
Gillespie also served as a line producer on fellow 2017 US Documentary Competition title WHOSE STREETS?.
Co-Producers:
Nahmias’ directorial debut UNFINISHED SPACES was part of Sundance Film Forward, a touring program of the Sundance Institute revolving around cultural dialogue. This is her first film as part of the festival.
This is the Danish freelance journalist and producer’s first film credit.
Executive Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY INTO DAY (2000, director/editor, Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize)
COMPLAINTS OF A DUTIFUL DAUGHTER (1995, director/producer/editor)
Hoffman was nominated for the Best Documentary Feature Academy Award for both of the above films, and is also known as a documentary editor, having cut Sundance alumni such as THE TIMES OF HARVEY MILK (1985).
Past Sundance docs:
THE HUNTING GROUND (2015)
Harnisch is a former journalist whose Harnisch Foundation supports gender and racial equality and inclusivity.
Past recent Sundance docs:
NEWTOWN (2016)
MAYA ANGELOU: AND STILL I RISE (2016)
RESILIENCE (2016)
UNDER THE GUN (2016)
THE EAGLE HUNTRESS (2016)
DREAMCATCHER (2015)
THE HUNTING GROUND
The Artemis Rising Foundation philanthropist is also an executive producer for fellow 2017 US Documentary Competition title STEP.
Past Sundance docs:
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD (2015)
HELL AND BACK AGAIN (2011)
Past recent Sundance docs:
AUDRIE & DAISY (2016)
NOTES ON BLINDNESS (2016)
NUTS! (2016)
THE EAGLE HUNTRESS
CENSORED VOICES (2015)
THE HUNTING GROUND
SEMBENE! (2015)
DREAMCATCHER
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD
CHUCK NORRIS VS COMMUNISM (2015)
HOT GIRLS WANTED (2015)
IN FOOTBALL WE TRUST (2015)
Impact Films’ Co-Founder/Executive Director Cogan is also an executive producer of three other US Documentary Competition titles this year – DINA, ICARUS, STEP, and TROPHY – and the Documentary Premieres title BENDING THE ARC.
This is Wilson’s first film credit.
This is also Gunn’s first film credit.
Weinman is a founder of the LinkedIn-acquired online software training website Lynda.com. She previously worked in animation and special effects for Hollywood studio films and taught digital media and graphics. She is also an associate producer of fellow 2017 US Documentary Competition title CHASING CORAL.
Eliassen is an entrepreneur whose personal experience with ME/CFS has led to her extensive philanthropic work related to the condition.
Co-Executive Producers:
The San Francisco-based Menageds are behind the Menaged Foundation and make their Sundance debut as executive producers with this project.
Past Sundance docs:
NOTES ON BLINDNESS
AUDRIE & DAISY
SEMBENE!
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD
CENSORED VOICES
CHUCK NORRIS VS COMMUNISM
WEB JUNKIE (2014)
THE CRASH REEL (2013, co-producer)
Impact Partners VP Raskin also executive produced fellow 2017 Sundance US Documentary Competition titles DINA, STEP, and TROPHY.
Editors:
Past Sundance docs:
THE HUNTING GROUND
INEQUALITY FOR ALL (2013)
THE BARBER OF BIRMINGHAM (short) (2011)
WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN” (2010)
FREEHELD (short) (2007)
THE FALL OF FUJIMORI (2005)
DAUGHTER FROM DANANG (2002, Sundance Documentary Grand Jury Prize)
DADDY & PAPA (2002)
LONG NIGHT’S JOURNEY INTO DAY
Past Sundance docs:
3 1/2 MINUTES, TEN BULLETS (2015)
ALL THAT IS SOLID MELTS INTO AIR (New Frontier installation) (2011)
Why You Should Watch:
Brea’s deeply personal film instantly engenders empathy for its warmly open director and supportive spouse, but by wisely broadening to encompass the stories of others facing ME/CFS, the project conveys a sense of urgency about the need to understand and address the condition.
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the film title in the first paragraph.
To experience the festival through the eyes of this year’s filmmakers, follow my Sundance 2017 Twitter list.
what (not) to doc 
Our body charged with positive electron. If we contact with negative charge, our body charged with negative electron and gene expression and control system may alter or sleep and have several diseases. If we have several disease, we enter the chronic fatigue syndrome. If we escape from negative electron source and remove the body negative electron with body tune up.
That is all. Patient will be healthy.
I do have several diseases. Do not understand how to get rid of negative electrons to make body healthy.
Excited for you Jen and your husband. Hope you are taking care not to overdue. At a loss of words about what your documentary may do for the MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS communities. Feel like I’m holding my breath and need to do something positive for ME as I lay in bed day After day. Mind racing, body not co-operating, sleeping 18 hours a day, need to lay flat, body vibrating, losing words. Blessings dear one. May it all go well.