DIRECTORS NOTE

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MEDICINAL BACKGROUND

WE WERE INTERESTED IN HOW A SOMATIC DISEASE CREATES ADDITIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS FOR PATIENTS. 
FOR OUR APPROACH IN TODAY I`LL BE WE TOOK THE KÜBLER-ROSS MODEL POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF, AND APPLIED IT TO THE SUFFERING OF OUR FICTIONAL PROTAGONIST: DENIAL, ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AND JEALOUSY OF THE SANE, DEPRESSION AND GRIEF, AND FINALLY ACCEPTANCE OF THE DISEASE.

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I HAD DONE A SHORT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH CHRONIC RENAL DISEASES SOME YEARS AGO AND WAS STILL INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECT.
 OUR PROTAGONIST IN TODAY I`LL BE AS WELL HAS RENAL FAILURE AND NEEDS TO GET HEMODIALYSIS. SHE ALSO IS AT AN AGE WHERE SHE NORMALLY WOULD BE ADULT AND AUTONOMOUS BUT BECAUSE OF THE DISEASE SHE NOW IS TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON OTHERS, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN HARDER. AS KIDNEYS ARE VITAL ORGANS, PEOPLE WITH RENAL FAILURE OFTEN ARE DIRECTLY CONFRONTED WITH DEATH.

SOMETIMES AN ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION IS THE ONLY WAY FOR PATIENTS TO LEAD A MORE NORMAL LIFE, NOT SPENDING 6-10HRS FOR 2-3 DAYS A WEEK IN DIALYSIS.
 IN GERMANY ORGAN TRANSPLANTS OF CLINICALLY DEAD PEOPLE ARE ONLY POSSIBLE IF A PERSON AGREES TO IT DURING LIFETIME. IF THE DECEASED PERSON DIDN`T AGREE OR DIDN`T DISAGREE, RELATIVES MUST DECIDE ABOUT HARVESTING ORGANS, WHICH CLEARLY IS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN FOR THEM. MOST PEOPLE DOESN’T KNOW ABOUT IT AND DOESN’T TAKE A DECISION DURING LIFETIME. HOPEFULLY TODAY I`LL BE IS A SMALL CONTRIBUTION TO RAISE AWARENESS TO THE TOPIC.