Hello!
My name is Dearbhla Young and I am an Irish writer & filmmaker. I started the plan for this project late last year, and it’s nearly ready to come together and finally be made - it only needs a little bit of your help to bring it to life! The topic of this film is one that’s extremely close to my heart, and as endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and people with wombs worldwide, I’m sure I’m not alone in that. The aim is to shoot at home in Ireland at the end of June in my childhood home.
Thank you for any help you can give! It is all appreciated!
LOGLINE
A deeply personal short and insightful documentary into how endometriosis has affected this 22 year old woman’s life so far, through an open and frank conversation with her mother.
STORY
This documentary’s purpose is to offer a platform for the discussion of what endometriosis is, and how it affects not only a woman's health, but also her personal and familial relationships. The close relationship between one mother and daughter will be explored through the documentation of an open and candid conversation that they haven’t been facilitated to have due to the taboo and silenced nature of the disease. This conversation will be layered with heavily atmospheric based B-roll content shot on 16mm film. This conversation will serve as a microcosm for the detrimental personal and emotional effects of this enigmatic disease.
Rather than being based in medical exposition, this piece will instead rely on personal experience as the focal point of exploration. Through a discussion of her feelings of confusion, despair, anger and compassion, this film will explore the mind of a young woman with a life of uncertainty and chronic illness looming before her.
A NOTE FROM DEARBHLA
This film is a deeply personal passion project for me. It was inspired by a few great women in my life who I’ve watched suffer massively in silence with endometriosis, the main one being my youngest sister. Watching her grow up with the pain she has experienced in the last 10 years; coming to the conclusion that this pain isn’t normal and finally finding a label for her pain after years of medical professionals not taking her pain seriously; her relationships with others being affected; and her inability to access any kind of effective care, has been the driving force behind my need to pour my creativity into a project that might help in any small way.
Endometriosis affects 1 in every 10 people with wombs, and I’ve found that the vast majority of people I speak to about it have never even heard of it. My hope with this film is that I can raise awareness through platforming the voice of my very inspiring sister, and raise funds that will go towards resources for a severely underrepresented issue.
STYLE
This film is heavily influenced by cinéma vérité. There is less emphasis on a clean and highly-stylized editing process than there is on authentic communication and the truthful expression of emotion at the crux of this project. The film will combine observational interviews of the subject, the subject and her mother, and a heavily atmospheric B-roll shot on 16mm film which will be layered with the interviewees’ voiceover.
As the subject is a very close and in-depth exploration of experience, I hope the audience will be able to feel the raw emotions and experiences of the events discussed as if listening to an in-person speaker.
WHAT WE NEED & WHAT YOU GET
