UnMasked: We all Breathe

Director’s Statement, UnMasked – Ashleigh Hamilton and Emma Watts
UnMasked is a narrative-driven story of surviving multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Three South African doctors share their story of occupational TB, diagnosis, stigma and treatment through 18-months of harrowing illness and overcoming the challenge of a disease which is as dated as the plague.

When we found out that not only is TB the world’s most deadly infectious killer, but doctors are at very high risk of contracting drug-resistant TB (6X more likely than the wider community) we knew we wanted to raise awareness around this issue. The thought of young, enthusiastic doctors entering the medical profession wanting to save lives, yet having their own lives destroyed in the process, was something we wanted to change and a story that we knew the world needed to hear.

In order to reach the largest possible audience, this film needed to be more than just statistics and facts about TB. We knew that to make real change the audience needed to care about those affected by this disease. We started researching and found there are a large number of doctors entering the healthcare system in South Africa who are affected by this disease. We were immediately struck by their stories of starting out on a journey with the intention of helping the sick and poor, yet having their lives turned upside down and, in some cases, cut short by this brutal disease.

We wanted to dispel the idea that TB is something that only happens to the poor or those affected by HIV, we wanted each audience member to feel: this could be me!

The interviews are the backbone of the film. Ashleigh spent months building solid relationships with these women in order for them to feel comfortable in telling their story in the most brutally honest manner on screen. She felt strongly about revealing the truth of their story and for them to describe how this diagnosis and their medical treatment changed how they felt about themselves before, during and after the TB diagnosis.

It was Emma who carefully dissected hours and hours of interviews and b-roll to weave together a finessed narrative that takes you through the looking glass and reveal who is beneath the mask of our characters. As female filmmakers, Emma and Ashleigh are proud co-directors.

The women in this film express a story of change, a tale of being at the edge of the ledge, and the precipice of creating a new life. Forced to confront their own survival, their possible death and hearing loss, they journey through illness, transcend from doctor to patient and back to doctor, activist or just normality. UnMasked is a showcase of real grappling that illustrates that a disease we all thought belonged to “them” actually belongs to all of us. It is a palpable exploration of understanding that because we all breathe, we are all without masks.

Each woman ventured to the edge of trust, revealing in interview their most vulnerable thoughts. As a result, the power of this film comes from its uncovering of the raw emotion, the confronting resilience and the bravery of these women.

UnMasked is taking the mask off, removing the stigma, debunking the stereotype to unveil the truth about this disease and the harrowing treatment they must endure in order to live. The doctors in this film bravely shared their stories with us, giving us their trust because they want their stories to change perceptions. As filmmakers, we hope this powerful story educates and informs not only medical professionals, but everyday South Africans about TB, ultimately, we hope UnMasked changes lives.