Why you and your family should watch the Unrest Documentary

Why You Should Watch The Documentary Unrest

I was sent a screener of the Unrest documentary back in December but by the time I got a chance to watch it the documentary was available on Netflix, so I watched it there.

After viewing it I have 5 reasons you should not only watch Unrest, but you should watch Unrest with your family. If you haven’t heard about Unrest yet, here’s the synopsis:

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 M.E. (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 and social media, 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.

Even while watching it I couldn’t help but share with others that they needed to see this film. So, why do you need to see it?

1 . You’ll identify all too well.

From the opening scene, I identified all too well.

Even though Jennifer suffers from a different illness than I do – severe CFS/ME – I’ve lived with many of the same symptoms and can recall a time when I was just as ill.

2 . You’ll know you aren’t alone.

Often the hardest part of chronic illness is that feeling that you are alone in it.

Rarely do we know someone personally who suffers as we do.

We rely on the internet to find others who can relate (as Jennifer did) and we make lifelong friends who we will never meet in person.

If you’ve not done that yet, keep reaching out to others online, there are so many of us.

Related: The Importance of Support Groups for Fibromyalgia 

3 . You’ll learn about the history of these illnesses.

Unlike some documentaries that follow the life of someone with an illness, this documentary digs further.

Unrest digs into the history of our illnesses, and how CFS/ME (and similar illnesses like Fibromyalgia and even MS) have been misdiagnosed.

It also examines how those of us suffering from these illnesses have been called hypochondriacs and hysterical for hundreds of years.

4 . You’ll learn how differently these illnesses are treated internationally.

Jennifer also pays attention to how differently these illnesses are treated internationally.

It’s easy to take for granted that illness is treated the same everywhere, that different countries have a consensus on the cause and treatment for an illness, but that’s obviously not true.

5 . You’ll see a view from the other side.

This documentary isn’t just about Jennifer, bu also about her husband Omar and his journey through dealing with illness.

It also examines things from the point of view of other spouses and caregivers.

If you’ve not yet viewed Unrest, you can find it on most of the online video platforms, including Netflix, Amazon, Google Play, etc.

Unrest is not the first documentary about chronic illness, nor the first about CFS/ME.

Below is a list of those I’m aware of, if you know of others please leave a comment and share them. If you have thoughts on any of these please share those as well. By sharing we can all learn together.

• I Remember Me – documentary about a man living with CFS/ME. (my review)
• Under Our Skin – documentary about Lyme disease
• The Connection – documentary by Shannon Harvey, examining the various ways we can combat chronic illness. (my review)
• Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead – documentary about juicing to improve symptoms of chronic illness. (my review)

• Invisible: The Film – documents the life of Megan Dinsmore, who lives with and has overcome Fibromyalgia (not yet released).

Related Posts: 

• Chronic illness does not mean you are a failure. You are a success story.
• Learning to trust yourself in the face of chronic illness
• Learning to trust yourself in the face of chronic illness