Experiencing Interruptions?

HALLUCINATIONS

HALLUCINATIONS is an immersive journey into the personal experiences of two people who are living with dementia, juxtaposed with the perspective of two carers.

The film reveals intimate details that convey how dementia changes perceptions – resulting in hallucinations, altered experiences of time and sense of identity.

HALLUCINATIONS invites us to enter into the reality of Pegeen O’Sullivan, the daughter of Irish novelist, Liam O’Flaherty, who currently lives in a care village in North West of England and Wendy Mitchell, who wrote her first book, after being diagnosed with young-onset dementia at the age of 58.

The film transports us to their interior worlds, their personal journeys and perceptions of reality. We are offered an insight into Wendy’s daily coping mechanisms in her home - photos adhered to the door of cupboards so that they can be identified as cupboards rather than protrusions from the wall.

Old memories when recalled appear as present reality, dead relatives reappear in their homes; what would be unsettling for people without dementia, may in fact bring comfort and security for those with it. The intimate perspectives, dilemmas and hopes for the future, revealed in HALLUCINATIONS, offer a fresh and startlingly honest investigation of what it feels like to have dementia.

  • Suki Chan
    Director
  • Suki Chan
    Producer
  • Teresa Grimes
    Associate Producer
  • Dominik Scherrer
    Sound Designer
    Elizabeth is Missing, The Widow
  • Pegeen O'Sullivan
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Wendy Mitchell
    Key Cast
    "Self"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 3, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    11,956 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Science Gallery Rotterdam
    Rotterdam
    Netherlands
    April 3, 2020
    European Premiere
  • B3 Biennale of the Moving Image
    Frankfurt
    Germany
    October 15, 2020
Director Biography - Suki Chan

Suki Chan is an artist filmmaker. Chan uses a range of media including installation, moving image, photography and sound to explore our perception of reality. Her immersive, mesmerising film works draws the viewer into a cinematic 'elsewhere', investigating memory, subjectivity and identity.

Her practice is research-based and features dialogues with diverse communities from people living with dementia, blind and partially sighted people, to psychologists and neuroscientists.
In 2017 Chan was selected by Film London for New Approaches, a programme that helps artists cross over into the film industry, write and develop a feature-length film.

A response to the socio-cultural aspects of place has always been important to Chan’s work. Chan has filmed in diverse locations and sites including contested sacred sites in the Middle East; Senate House Library in London; Hagia Sofia in Istanbul; and rammed earth roundhouses in Yunnan province, China.

Chan’s films have been shown internationally: B3 Biennale of the Moving Image, Frankfurt; Science Gallery Rotterdam; David Roberts Art Foundation, London; Centre for Contemporary Chinese Art, Manchester; Liverpool Biennale; Art Basel Hong Kong, Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art, China; Frost Science Museum, Miami, US; Hiroshima Museum of Contemporary Art, Japan; and Dr. Bhau Daji Museum, Mumbai, India.

Suki Chan is the director of Conscious Productions Ltd with Anna Jancso. Chan also writes, directs and produces her films through her independent company Suki Chan Ltd.

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Director Statement

HALLUCINATIONS was made following an artist residency at a care village in the North West of England in 2019. During the residency, I ran film screenings, arts & craft workshops, served tea, sat and chatted with the residents, their families and carers.

The experience was tranformative. I learned about the experiences of people living with dementia and how their families and friends are impacted during the different stages of the dementia journey.

I heard many incredible life stories. I witnessed the love between family members and the courage they have facing this difficult stage of their lives - as a resident or as a carer.

Most of all, I was taken aback by the lack of fear some residents have, particularly Pegeen O'Sullivan.

At the same time, I met Wendy Mitchell after speaking with a neuroscientist about consciousness, who recommended her book to me. I made contact with Wendy and over the years have visited her every year to interview her.

Despite the effects of dementia, Wendy has chosen to re-frame her identity in a positive way.

Wendy is extremely articulate and uses visual metaphors such as “fog descending on the brain,” to describe how the disease can make her feel.

She also has some ingenious daily coping mechanisms, like photographing the contents of her cupboards to stick onto her cupboard doors. This is not only to remind her of what is in the cupboards but so that they can be identified as cupboards in the first place rather than protrusions from the wall.

Getting to know her and gaining an insight into her personal journey with dementia has been inspiring. I’ve learnt that dementia is not only about losing one’s memory. It affects people’s vision and understanding of reality.