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Podcasts The Frame
Personal documentaries: 'Unrest' and 'Strong Island'
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Episode 16868
Listen 23:58
Personal documentaries: 'Unrest' and 'Strong Island'

In "Unrest," Jennifer Brea documents life with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME–commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. By turning the camera on herself and others she hopes to teach audiences about this misunderstood illness; In 1992, a 24-year-old black man named William Ford, Jr. was shot and killed by a white man in Long Island. Now, his brother, Yance Ford has made the documentary “Strong Island" to uncover why it happened and what the aftereffects were.

Disbelieved by doctors, Jennifer Brea turns the camera on herself to reveal the hidden world of the chronic disease myalgic encephalomyelitis in her film, "Unrest."
Disbelieved by doctors, Jennifer Brea turns the camera on herself to reveal the hidden world of the chronic disease myalgic encephalomyelitis in her film, "Unrest."
(
Jason Frank
)

In "Unrest," Jennifer Brea documents life with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME–commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. By turning the camera on herself and others she hopes to teach audiences about this misunderstood illness; In 1992, a 24-year-old black man named William Ford, Jr. was shot and killed by a white man in Long Island. Now, his brother, Yance Ford has made the documentary “Strong Island" to uncover why it happened and what the aftereffects were.

Listen 12:12
First-time filmmaker Jennifer Brea documents her struggle with a chronic disease in "Unrest." Even when she was in pain, she told her husband and crew to keep filming.
Listen 12:41
Director Yance Ford talks about making a documentary about his brother's murder.