A documentary short film produced by The Sumaira Foundation and directed by Caroline Württemberger. Bérengère is in her mid-40s and lives in the south of France with her family. She has been suffering from a rare autoimmune disease for over 20 years. NMO - neuromyelitis optica - is a condition that causes the immune system to attack the central nervous system, often leaving patients blind and paralyzed. When Bérengère's symptoms first presented in 2001, NMO was barely known and she was not taken seriously by her doctors. The early period of the disease was a great challenge, not only for Bérengère but also for her whole family. Especially for her daughter, Emma, NMO felt like an absolute threat and enemy in their own home, attacking the most precious person in her life: her mother. When Bérengère was finally diagnosed with NMO, her daughter was only 12 years old. Now knowing the enemy, Emma wrote a heart-felt letter to the disease, getting her anger and fears off her chest and making the greatest declaration of love to her mother. Today Bérengère tries to balance her life as a mother, wife and patient while staying true to her life philosophy: “You have to grab life with both hands and enjoy every moment!” Mother and daughter tell the story of an illness that shaped an entire family. In addition, we learn more about the disease from one of the top medical experts and researchers in the field: Professor Romain Marignier from the Hospices Civils de Lyon (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lyon). In the end, only one thing counts for Bérengère: her family. Together they find the happiness they have longed for on a farm far away from the big city, a simple and happy life in which the greatest gift is to be together.
Produced by HEARTWORK PRODUCTIONS
Director: CAROLINE WÜRTTEMBERGER
Editing: ALEX LUPANOW, ANDREAS POPPE
Director of Photography: ARMIN KOTTEK
Executive Producer: MAX WÜRTTEMBERGER
Producers: MAX WÜRTTEMBERGER, SUMAIRA AHMED, MICHAEL DEVLIN
written by CAROLINE WÜRTTEMBERGER
Creative Producer: MIKE YOUSAF
Line Producer: KHADIJA ADDA-REZIG
"A" Camera Operator: ARMIN KOTTEK
"B" Camera Operator: LUCAS BERÓN DE ASTRADA
1st AC: LUCAS BERÓN DE ASTRADA
2nd AC/Camera PA: KATJA FICKENWIRTH
Sound Mixer: FLORIAN GUDZIAN
Boom Operator: FLORIAN GUDZIAN
Best Boy: JENS ROTHE
Voice Over: SUMAIRA AHMED
VFX Artist: RONNY WAGNER
Colorist: ALEXANDER VEXLER
Hair and Makeup: STEFANIE HASEIDL
Styling: ZAREEN NAHAR
Post Production Supervision: MAX WÜRTTEMBERGER, MIKE YOUSAF
Sound Mastering: FLORIAN GUDZIAN
Design: JAN-FREDERIK MEYER
Motion Design: JASMIN MIETASCHK
Copyright: HEARTWORK PRODUCTIONS