Experiencing Interruptions?

Beating Batten

I have been thrown into the controversial world of stem cell research and medical research by a turn of unfortunate events. My daughter Sara was diagnosed with a rare terminal disease. When I first received this devastating news, my only hope was BDSRA. An organization which, through it’s yearly conferences, connected children and their parents with researchers. However the research was in it’s infancy. I knew, I was relegated to hopelessly watch my daughter slowly regress and die. As the years passed and researchers came up with new results, the atmosphere at the conference shifted. With each new breakthrough came a new hope. Year after year I could feel the change, and that feeling was my inspiration. I needed to show what can be accomplished, even if it takes painfully long time. I hope to let the viewer experience, what I have experienced. Welcome to my world.

  • Zuzana Gedeon
    Director
  • Zuzana Gedeon
    Writer
  • Zuzana Gedeon
    Producer
  • Zuzana Gedeon
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Zvítězit nad Battenovou nemocí
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 11, 2013
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Montana State University
  • Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival
    Burbank, CA
    March 16, 2014
    North American Premiere
  • Life Sciences Film Festival
    Prague, CZ
    October 16, 2014
  • BDSRA conference
    Nashville, TN
    July 19, 2013
    Public preview
  • Indie Short Film Festival
    Charlottesville
    United States
    March 22, 2024
Director Biography - Zuzana Gedeon

She sat in a college cafeteria. surrounded by people she knew, including the love of her life and the father of her two children, clunking of the silverware, smells of cafeteria food, and the noise of the voices around. She contemplated next homework; future school assignment. Life was nice. Quite peaceful and crazy at the same time. With two kids and schoolwork, there was not much time to contemplate many other things. It was all she could muster to handle schoolwork, her teaching schedule and kids. Suddenly someone perked up at the table and pointed to the entryway: ”Look that guy with white beard: Bill Neff. He is a great filmmaker. Did you know they have an amazing film program here?” “Wow! A film. That would be so awesome to be able to do something like that,” she thought for a brief moment. But the thought drowned quickly in the daily routine: kids, school, teaching, kids and friends and all the simple pleasures that daily routine brings. For the time being she lived in a comfortable cocoon surrounded by people who needed her and who supported and loved her. Ten years later, the thought came back. At first it was not clear and obvious. The thought came more like it has been birthed. Hard and painful transformation opened the channel. And slowly with each new agony and contraction made it’s way out from the abyss. Until one day it was out in the open screaming and crying for it’s life in the world. New future that needs her care, her nurturing and all the skills she has, to ensure that this new visceral child is going to thrive. But for now this new concept is happily cuddled in her arms. Washed and cleaned and so undeniable, it is hard to remember why it was not always so obvious.

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Director Statement

Sometime we face insurmountable odds. This film is about inspirations that drive people to face them.