Screening comments | moviedystonia

~Voices from past screenings~

January 8, 2025 (Wednesday) Shinagawa Curian, Tokyo Screening of "Dystonia Re-edited Version"

・I learned a lot about DBS surgery. I saw that Mr. Sato was getting better, and I felt like I wanted to move forward too. ・Listening to music helps me relax, and I feel like my symptoms have improved a little. . ・I want to hear stories of people who have been cured with other treatments. ・Every time I watch it, my understanding deepens. I hope I can spread the word about it to the world. ・It was re-edited and made more concise, but it was still worth watching. ・It was a movie I had always wanted to see, so I'm glad I made the effort to come. I want my children, my sister's children, and children with a future to see it. ・I suspected that I had dystonia, and when I searched for X, I found out about today's screening by chance and came here. I was able to deepen my understanding from the attitude of patients and people involved in facing the disease. ・I want to teach everyone that dystonia surgery is not painful. ・I liked the fact that it focused on Mr. Sato and that the voices of various patients were inserted at a good tempo. Scriabin's piano also played an important role. ・I would like to see it broadcast on TV and other media, not just in the movie, so that many people can watch it. ・I would like to see an example of a musician who improved through rehabilitation without surgery. ・I was moved by Sato's courage, Taira's skill, and the director's high level of professionalism. Chinai's music is also good. I was able to watch the 60 minutes without it being too heavy. It's a useful movie. ・I would like it to be screened at elementary and junior high schools. ・I would like it to be watched not only by medical professionals, but also by vocational school students (hairdressing/beauty, cooking, music, dental technicians, etc.). ・I sympathized with the patient's desire not to know. But I felt it was also important to let them know and move forward. I liked that there were smiles throughout the movie. ・I wanted to watch it a little more carefully, so I felt like I would have liked to see the original 100-minute version as well. It reminded me of Hara Kazuo's "Minamata Mandala." It's the same brain disease, and it's a disease that was misunderstood. ・I would like to know the number of patients is unknown, and what the government thinks about this disease.

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 Tokyo Koto-ku Fukagawa Edo Museum Small Theater [Dr. Taira in Nepal] Screening

・A good movie to let the world know how hard it is to be a doctor. ・These days in Japan, we are not nurturing craftsmen or artists. I agreed with what Dr. Taira said at the end. ・I liked that the scene where Dr. Taira smokes a cigarette made him seem more human. ・The scene where the woman with a neck ailment is crying after surgery was memorable. ・Dr. Taira's personality comes out and I thought he is a trustworthy person. ・Dr. Taira's words, "A simple thank you makes me so happy," make everyone happy if they are truly grateful! ・I was impressed by the doctor's words, "Do a lot of numbers. A doctor who is satisfied with 900 out of 1000 is arrogant," and "Even if you work hard, it is taken for granted." I hope patients will reflect on this. ・I would like patients and other doctors to watch this.

December 23, 2017 (National Holiday) Screening at the Laspec Hall, Shirane Community Center, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture

・There were some heartbreaking scenes about the current situation of people with dystonia, but the smiles of Sato-san and everyone else left a strong impression on me. Thank you very much. ・I was able to see the documentary about the difficulties of treatment and life without recognition, and it gave me an opportunity to think about what I can do in the future. ・I think it's a very good film that allows the general public to learn about the thoughts, feelings, and pain of patients. ・The deep brain stimulation OPE scene was quite shocking, to be honest, because there was a scene where they used a drill (?) to open the hole. ・It was easy to see the results of Haruko's treatment before and after the operation. ・The film medium was very useful for learning about the current situation. Illness does not equal misfortune, but if society is ignorant and lacks understanding, patients will suffer unnecessarily. Since there is such a thing as drug-induced dystonia, I think it is important for many people to spread the word. ・By watching the video, I learned that there are various symptoms. I was able to learn about people whose lives are greatly affected by the disease. I hope that by raising awareness of the disease, misdiagnosis will be prevented and new treatments will be developed. ・The words "I want people to know about the treatment for dystonia, but I also want to hide it. I have conflicting feelings" were profound. When I think about the various influences of family, work, and economic situation at the time, I wonder if the person with dystonia might feel like "wanting to hide it."

June 24, 2017 (Saturday) Unity of Kona Screening, Hawaii, USA

・What a lot of information. I appreciate what Ms.sato had gone through.Thank you. ・I really enjoyed the movie, I hope the situation will improve. ・Haven't heard of Dystonia and very informative. ・The information is so important. I enjoyed the way you told the story. Well done.This information is very important. I enjoyed the way you told the story. Well done!

June 4, 2016 (Saturday) Saitama Arts Theater, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture Screening

・It's amazing that so many people put themselves in the record. Information, knowledge, experience, friends, teachers, sharing. I learned a lot from this. It's courageous. There was a line in the film that said, "If you're not moving, you can't get it across." We're blessed to live in an age where information can be conveyed, shared, and spread through video, and I think there's still a lot we don't know. ・The fun-looking surgery was so impressive that I almost wondered if it was really surgery. I thought it was really amazing that the initial symptoms were visibly improved. I would highly recommend this movie to raise awareness of dystonia. I'd like not only patients, but also many doctors to watch it. ・I learned that there are people with dystonia, including the star Sato. There are a wide range of symptoms in the hands, neck, and eyes, and there are feelings and environments that prevent people from showing their disabilities, and in order to obtain the designation of an intractable disease, a forum for discussion with members of parliament has been set up and activities are being actively carried out. I hope that this movie and lecture will spread further and the circle of support will expand. ・I thought it was wonderful that Sato's calm demeanor made it seem like a major operation. It's very difficult to tell that the symptoms of writer's cramp are dystonia, and I felt reluctant to go to the hospital on my own. The director is young and wonderful. I want more people to know about dystonia. I will be telling this to all my acquaintances. Dr. Taira's gentle gaze puts him in the patient's shoes. I learned a lot from the conversation during the operation, observing the patient's condition, and the atmosphere of relaxation and enjoyment. I think the doctor has seen the film many times, but it was wonderful to see him smiling as if he was watching it for the first time.

October 25, 2015 (Sunday) Nara Prefecture Social Welfare Center, Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture Screening

・Mr. Sato's story encouraged me. I am also a patient, and I will do my best. ・I didn't know there were so many symptoms of dystonia. First of all, I want to let doctors know the name of the disease, dystonia. ・I learned that there was a screening of dystonia, which I had been interested in after getting to know someone with dystonia. I thought it was very scary that the brain and nerves could become ill. ・I watched the film without having much knowledge about dystonia, but I thought, "I see," and learned new things, and I wanted to know more about this disease. ・My husband has dystonia. I hope we can join you on your journey and overcome various difficulties together. Thank you. ・I was given the courage to live with dystonia for the rest of my life. Thank you. ・I was moved by your positive attitude in facing the disease. ・It was wonderful. I was moved. Thank you! Thank you! ・It was a time where I could learn about things I didn't know while enjoying the characters of each character. Thank you♪

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Screening at Sendai Mediatheque, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture

・The 1 hour and 40 minutes went by in a flash. ・I wondered if the instruments are permanent or if they require periodic replacement surgery, and how difficult it must be. ・Tomiko Okazaki, please make this movie more widely known. ・I was shocked to see how many different diseases there are. I was also surprised that the doctor performed the surgery while talking under local anesthesia on the head. There are very few doctors in Japan who can perform surgery, so Dr. Taira is a great help. This documentary was very easy to understand and I felt like I was choking on the heart. ・It really changed my way of thinking about illness. I'm glad I came across this movie. I'm ashamed of myself for thinking of illness as something that didn't concern me. ・I'd like to ask Director Kawabata to make a version of the movie for SDCP (Synphonia Patients Association). It was a fantastic movie. Thank you very much. ・I learned a lot from the fact that even as a sufferer of SD (spasmodic dysphonia), I didn't know some things. I hope that screenings will be held in various places to raise awareness. ・I thought it was great that it included a lot of real voices from patients. I only had a vague idea about dystonia, so after seeing it today, I feel even more motivated to let more people know about it.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Screening at the Regional Collaboration Support Center in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

・I really think it's something I want more people to see. I think it's a common problem for people with various incurable diseases. If it can be screened in a small venue, I'd like my coworkers to see it too. ・When my brother was diagnosed with dystonia, I later reflected that I may have made him suffer more by encouraging him to undergo exorcism and prayers at a time when he was going through the most difficult times. But I respect my brother for always facing his illness in a positive way and never complaining. I also respect my sister-in-law who is always cheerful and supports him, my parents who watch over him while worrying, and my nephews who don't say much but support him...I believe that without the support of family, the strength to persevere is different when it comes to illness, and I am always grateful. Watching the movie made me think again about the feelings of the person, family, and doctor who is fighting an incurable disease. Thank you very much for today. ・Thank you for the movie. Actually, my grandson (23 years old) has also been diagnosed with dystonia. He lives in Tokyo. He had surgery performed by Dr. Taira, who appears in this movie. It's sad to think that he will have to live with it for the rest of his life no matter what. ・Through this documentary, I strongly felt that the attitude of people who suffer and face difficulties, not just illnesses, is not different from other people. It gave me courage to face the difficulties that will come in the future in the same way. ・I came from Oita. I learned that there are various symptoms of dystonia. First of all, I would like medical professionals to know the names of all diseases, including dystonia, incurable diseases, and those that do not fall into that category. ・Everyone has an equal right to be happy. I think that we healthy people need to pay more attention to those around us. On the contrary, I was given courage and energy to work hard. Thank you. I would like to take action, even if it is a small effort. ・I thought many things were amazing. The efforts of the doctors, the power of the engineers, and the positive attitude of the patients - I think they all overcame great difficulties. I am powerless, but I think I will start by learning. ・I support the activities of "Mirai Planet". I hope that the separate activities will become one big organization through enlightenment and solve problems and issues. I will do my best to provide opportunities for screenings.

April 26, 2015 (Sunday) Nagano City Lifelong Learning Center Screening

・As a dystonia patient and someone who has had DBS, I could really empathize with a lot of the content, and it was encouraging to know that there are so many other people who suffer from and are facing the symptoms. Thank you. ・I learned about this for the first time. I want more people to see it. ・I had some knowledge about dystonia from the internet, but it's great news to see that Sato-san in the movie underwent surgery and is about 70% better now. I'm glad he's still doing well. ・To be honest, I don't really understand what dystonia is, but I'm glad I learned that this kind of disease exists in the world. I want to learn more by reading books and such.

February 14th, 2015 (Saturday) Heartpia Shimizu, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Screening

・The main character has a bright personality and the story of the movie was bright and I liked it. ・I have dystonia. I learned about my illness 8 years ago, but I had a lot of difficulties before I found out about it. I am now attending Tokyo Women's Medical University, but I am glad I met Dr. Taira, and I would like to thank everyone involved in this movie. ・My niece has dystonia. She plays the piano and is working hard. I learned about Haruko Sato and was amazed by her way of thinking. I reflected on my lack of information and awareness. Let's do our best. ・Thank you for the valuable footage. This is the first time I've heard of dystonia, and I think it has a lot in common with Parkinson's. When I was diagnosed with dystonia, I felt like I had fallen into hell, but I joined the Friends' Association and was encouraged and energized by many of my friends. I think it is important to participate in such gatherings to get and exchange information. ・I would like to encourage dystonia patients in Tohoku and Niigata who have not yet seen it to watch it. Thank you for a wonderful movie. ・My wife had the same DBS surgery, so it brought back a lot of memories. Speaking to various patients, it takes a long time for the name of the disease to be identified, so I hope awareness of it will spread. ・I think it is also a disease that was born out of the influence of a sick society. (There are probably many internal and external factors.) This was very good content for deepening awareness. The structure was also good. I wish you continued success in the future.

Thursday, August 7, 2014: Tokyo, medical device manufacturer internal screening

・I was able to understand the disease in a very easy-to-understand way. I felt that there was a need to question the definition of an incurable disease and educate people around who don't know about dystonia. I hope that a cure will be found, not just DBS. I was moved by Dr. Taira's thoughts. He is a truly wonderful doctor. ・I was able to understand well because many patients spoke about diseases that are difficult to know about. I think it was a well-made movie. Thank you. ・I understood about dystonia. I was impressed by Dr. Taira's personality. ・This was my first opportunity to learn about dystonia. I also felt complicated about the fact that patients and their families want to hide the fact that they are suffering from it, and that they have to hide it. ・It was very interesting and educational to learn about dystonia, a disease I knew very little about, and to hear the real voices of patients. I hope that this will be an opportunity to learn more about it and to spread the word about dystonia to people who don't know about it yet. ・I thought this movie was very useful for raising awareness about dystonia. I also understood how the Friends' Association can help patients. ・Because I used to work for a company that deals with Botox, I knew about blepharospasm, writer's cramp, spasmodic torticollis, etc., but I didn't know that these diseases were called dystonia. It is very meaningful to know that we, as a medical device manufacturer, are helping such patients, and it makes me proud and happy. ・This is my second time (watching) the video. I work with dystonia cases. The first time, I mainly watched the video about dystonia, but this time I was able to watch it to gain a deeper understanding. I learned a lot by seeing the situation as it is. Thank you. ・I learned a lot from watching the video and learning that even though it is called dystonia, there are various symptoms and treatments.

Friday, June 20, 2014: Screening at Shinagawa Curian, Tokyo

・It was a mysterious disease, and I really understood what the director meant when he said "interesting." I was impressed by the lively figures of the patients who struggled with this mysterious disease and the doctors who supported them. I'm looking forward to the next film. ・I learned about dystonia when a member of a band I often listened to developed dystonia and retired from the professional world. I realized that it is still not widely recognized in the world. I would like to talk about this disease to those around me so that more people can become aware of it, even if it is just one step at a time. ・There are many beautiful women among dystonia patients. I found it strange. ・I heard there was a screening while I was in Tokyo from Sapporo, and I wanted to see it, so I came to see it. At first I thought it was a plain production, but before I knew it, I was drawn into the content. It was a movie that I want to watch carefully again, twice, and three times. Seeing Haruko's current condition in person, I thought her recovery and the doctors who were involved in the surgery were amazing. The performance of the left-handed pianist was overwhelming. I'm glad I came. ・I knew that Schumann had dystonia and that pianists have developed dystonia, so I thought that dystonia was a hand disease specific to musicians, but after watching today's documentary, I learned for the first time that it can develop anywhere in the body, such as the vocal cords, neck, and whole body, and that it can happen to anyone, not just musicians. I was shocked to learn that there are more people with dystonia symptoms than I thought. I hope that this disease will become more widely known and recognized by the public. ・It was a wonderful movie about a painful disease, but with a warm and bright atmosphere. I think this is due to the personalities of Sato-san, the other cast members, and director Kawabata. I also have occupational dystonia. I was very moved because I could understand their feelings. However, I think this movie will be very interesting for people other than dystonia patients to watch as well.

Sunday, June 8, 2014 Wakayama Big Ai Screening

・After watching the movie, I understood what dystonia is. I felt that if I could get over something, I could move forward. I thought it was important to overcome something that should not remain in the darkness forever. Thank you. ・As a family member with dystonia, I thought it was incurable, but after seeing this movie, I thought it would be good to think positively. I sincerely hope that my younger brother will have surgery by this doctor and get better. I was moved by Sato's positive attitude. I am grateful to Director Kawabata and the other people involved in making the movie. I am glad I came across this movie. ・My son has dystonia. I was happy to see the movie. ・Director Kawabata's movie was wonderful. I would like to meet Dr. Taira of Tokyo Women's Medical University even if I do not do DBS. ・I thought that the symptoms of the limbs would be mistaken for "cerebral palsy". However, there are voices saying that the symptoms appear in the same place, so I did not think that it was the same disease. I felt that it was a very difficult disease. In any case, it is clear that it is an incurable disease, so I hope that it will be designated as an incurable disease as soon as possible. Also, are the prefectural, city, and national support for daily living and economic aspects, such as disability certificates and disability pensions, sufficient?

May 11, 2014 (Sunday) Screening at Swan Hall, Itami City Labor Welfare Hall Youth Center, Hyogo Prefecture

・My family member (my son) has dystonia, and we were very happy to be able to watch this movie together, my husband, my wife, and myself (my mother). I learned more about dystonia. From now on, I would like to be more proactive in joining hands with people who suffer from various incurable diseases and participate in various activities. Thank you. ・It is a very realistic and wonderful movie. I am the family of a dystonia patient. I understand the pain of Mr. Sato and his family. I am sure that you are still working hard for dystonia patients while fighting the pain. I am in awe. Please take care of yourself. If there is anything I can do to help in the future, I would like to do so. I would like to thank the director, staff, and collaborators who were involved in this movie. Thank you. ・It was a good movie that made me realize that there are many problems in the world that I didn't know about. I felt the strength of people's lives. ・It is the result of the director's enthusiasm and passion. Please continue to make good movies! ・I had heard the name of the disease before, but as I watched the movie, I felt really ashamed of my ignorance. (After the screening) Sato-san talked about all the pain and hardships she had overcome, but she was cheerful and said that connections and encouragement between people are important. I want to keep searching for what I can do. It made me think about what I would do if I had this disease, if my child had it. Thank you. ・Sato-san was a wonderful woman. My sister also has a disability due to pediatric rheumatoid arthritis. Sato-san, please keep up the good work.

April 29, 2014 (Tuesday, National Holiday) Film Screening at Libro Hall in Yoyogi, Tokyo (with a mini piano concert)

・I knew about dystonia because I learned about it at school, but I was surprised to learn that it can develop for reasons other than over-practice (psychiatric medication), and I hope that psychiatrists will also be more aware of it. ・It is very important to communicate and to know. If you don't know, you won't have wisdom and you won't be able to move forward. It was a great movie. I will tell many people about it. ・(At the concert) I didn't know why they were playing a piece for the left hand, but after watching the movie, I learned that there are people with dystonia who need such a piece. It was such a great piece that you couldn't tell it was being played only with the left hand. I would like to think about how I can help people with dystonia, or those who may develop it. ・Both the performance and the movie were wonderful. Today was the first time I learned about the disease called dystonia, and I thought that it is not unrelated to me, who is learning the piano. I hope that this disease will become known to as many people as possible. ・The concert was very wonderful. The movie about dystonia was easy to understand and good. ・I was very happy to be able to listen to Scriabin's music today, as it was a piece that saved my heart when I hurt my right hand and couldn't play the piano. I learned about dystonia in university classes, so I had some knowledge about musicians' dystonia. However, it was an eye-opener to learn that the symptoms of dystonia vary from person to person, that there are various causes, and that medication can sometimes be the cause. I wanted as many people as possible to know about dystonia. ・I have been receiving Botox injections for dystonia for about 10 years. The music was also wonderful. This was my first piano solo, so I was very surprised by the richness of it. I want as many people as possible to see the movie. It reminded me of a lot of things about myself. Thank you. ・As a doctor, as a musician, and as someone who has a disability in his right hand, even though he doesn't have dystonia, I watched it with very complicated feelings. It takes a lot of courage to make a diagnosis that can only be made after other diseases have been ruled out. Looking at it from that perspective, I realized that I still have a lot of training to do to respond to the feelings of patients who feel relieved when they are told the diagnosis. "Disability," "disease," and "patient" - everyone's smiles are there because they have overcome the conflict between these two, and this film really made me realise through my own experience as a "disabled person." Thank you. This is the first time I've heard of this illness. It's a disability in a gap. We have also started an organization for higher-level brain dysfunction and have been active in this field. I hope we can work together to address this issue as it is in the gap between the medical and welfare systems.

April 12, 2014 (Saturday) Screening at Sakakibara Hakuho Hospital, Tsu City, Mie Prefecture

・I want many people to see it. It will also be a source of emotional support for people with other incurable diseases. It will also help the general public to understand, at least to some extent, what it means to live with an incurable disease. ・I am glad that there are doctors who are researching dystonia. I hope that treatment will become available more everywhere. ・My daughter was diagnosed with this disease, and the contents of this movie have helped me understand the symptoms of dystonia. I was moved to tears by the sight of everyone suffering and my daughter. I have met many doctors who do not understand the feelings of their patients, and I wish there was someone like Dr. Taira nearby. It is a good movie, so please broadcast it on television nationwide. ・Mr. Sato himself appears in the film, and I was moved by his courage to show us various scenes and make us think, and his positive attitude toward life. I was also moved by Dr. Taira's greatness and greatness. It has given me a ray of hope. Thank you. I hope it will be released on DVD. ・I have known the term writer's cramp for decades, but I did not know much about the condition. I recently found out that my son has exercise-induced dystonia, so I came to see it today with my husband. I was able to understand it very well by watching the movie, which is different from learning from a book. - Mr. Sato is doing his best. I want to support my husband too. I understand a little bit about dystonia. ・I learned a lot about dystonia. It was great to be able to see the surgery scene. ・ I want to learn more about dystonia. ・ It was my first time watching a documentary film, so it was refreshing. I realized that there are so many people who suffer from this disease. ・ I had studied about dystonia myself before watching this movie, but after watching it today, I was able to learn more about dystonia. I would like to use what I learned from this movie to continue studying more in the future. ・ I want many people to know about it. I would like not only people working at the hospital and those who are hospitalized and outpatients to watch it, but also people who do not visit the hospital. ・ I was able to understand it very well by hearing the voices of actual patients.

March 17, 2014 (Monday) Tokyo National Diet Preview

・I think the first step towards relief is for many people to know about it. In that sense, I think this work was very good. ・I thought the theme, main character, and message were all excellent. ・I am also a dystonia patient and underwent coagulation surgery, so I could relate to a lot of things. I hope that dystonia will somehow become more widely known. ・Thank you for giving me this opportunity to learn about the disease dystonia. ・It is a delayed disease of the nervous system, and since it develops in specialized professions, I think the number of cases will continue to increase. I have judged it to be very important for cutting-edge medicine and brain research. I also think that we should bring together the frameworks of cutting-edge medicine and brain science to solve this problem in the future.

March 16, 2014 (Sun) Osaka Municipal Lifelong Learning Center Screening

・I was moved by Sato's courage. I hope that dystonia will be more widely recognized in the world. Sato seems to have always been a cheerful person, but she has become even more cheerful. ・I have throat dystonia, but I learned that there are many other types of dystonia. Although our symptoms are different, we share the same thoughts and sympathy. It is difficult for small children to have symptoms. I am very happy that Sato's symptoms have been alleviated by the surgery. ・It was a movie that really resonated with me. I will keep this in mind as I go about my life. ・My sister has been taking medication for schizophrenia for about 30 years. She learned about dystonia and dyskinesia as a side effect. I brought my reluctant mother and sister to the event to learn about dystonia, which may occur in the future. I think that myself, my mother, and my sister were able to deepen our understanding of dystonia. I also felt that the personalities of Sato and the doctor were attractive. I would like to check their activities on the website again. ・My cousin suffers from spasmodic torticollis, but I learned that there are so many other symptoms as well, and I really learned a lot from hearing the people themselves, rather than the doctors giving complicated explanations. ・I think the content was hopeful for patients with dystonia. I hope it spreads nationwide. ・I was quite shocked because the surgery scenes were filmed as they were. But it was a good movie. ・I would like to see chapters two and three made. I would like the movie to become more well-known.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014: Tokyo, medical device manufacturer internal screening

・Because I work in the medical field, I thought I knew more about dystonia than the general public, but I learned that it is a mysterious disease with such a wide variety of symptoms. I'm glad I participated today because I was able to hear the real voices of patients with various symptoms. ・I don't usually have direct contact with patients, so I learned a lot from hearing their real voices and watching the video. Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule. I will continue to work hard to help patients suffering from various diseases. ・Ms. Sato looked very radiant. It was an opportunity to think about how I live my life. ・The editing was by no means　perfect like NHK's, but the content was easy to understand. I was very moved by Mr. Sato's determination to move forward despite the difficult situation. ・I returned to my original intention as an employee of a medical device manufacturer, thinking, "Everything is for the patients." ・I thought I could understand it better by watching the movie than by hearing it explained in words. I now understand how difficult it is to receive the designation of an "incurable disease." ・The content was not strangely produced, but the actual footage was shown as it was, without any editing, and in a vivid manner. I was able to understand the current situation. I was able to understand dystonia well. ・There was no dramatic direction, so the message was conveyed very honestly and directly. There were many memorable words such as "How you encounter dystonia and use it in your life is up to you" and "There is a lot to be gained from books". Thank you. ・It was a wonderful movie that helped me understand the feelings and interactions of patients, their families, and doctors. Thank you. ・I was surprised to learn that there are many different symptoms of dystonia. I can imagine the difficulties faced by all involved. It also made me think about providing information to patients. ・I was impressed by how you always had a smile on your face, even though I'm sure you must have been suffering from the pain caused by the symptoms. I was also impressed by the fact that you said "information is important" when asked why you had surgery. ・I was surprised that dystonia does not show up in test results, and that the effects of psychiatric drugs are one of the causes. Patient group activities are very important. Please continue your activities so that you can receive as much support as possible. I was also surprised by the wonderful piano performance using only the left hand. I also liked Mr. Sato's humorous way of speaking.

February 8, 2014 (Saturday) Screening at Shinagawa Curian, Tokyo

・ I was able to understand dystonia very well. I hope it will be broadcast on NHK or other networks so that people in the world will know about it. However, I'm not sure if it's really a good thing for dystonia to be designated as an incurable disease. It's better if treatment doesn't cost money, but I'm worried that it will lead to more medical care that people are worried about and more effort will be put into treatment that doesn't cure it... ・I was moved by Sato's courage and drive. I'm involved in activities related to Tourette's syndrome, and I was impressed by Kawabata's words, "There are other diseases that are not well known. I hope this movie will be an opportunity for people to "know" and "become interested" in them..." ・The director was frank with dystonia patients and their families, and I liked that it was a movie without a script. I was able to learn about the disease dystonia. He said that he didn't include subtitles on purpose, and I'm really glad that he did. It felt real and familiar. The director has a good personality, so I thought he was suited to a documentary film that gets real among the people involved and their guardians. Please continue to make good movies. ・I really liked the way they didn't symbolize the characters with subtitles or anything like that. I wondered if people would understand, but I didn't feel anything strange. I hope there will be more screenings in the future. I think it's great that they leave it up to the audience as a documentary. I was impressed by the scene where the family talked about wanting to hide the illness. ・As Sato-san, Dr. Taira, and the patients talked and talked peacefully, the conflicts of the cast, or the depth of how they have faced reality, or have tried to face it, were exuded and conveyed, and it was very touching. It was very good. ・I thought that Haru-san's every word and smile was filled with "will to live" and "kindness". Dr. Taira and Director Kawabata are all really wonderful people. I thought that Haru-san has the power to attract such people!

January 13th, 2014 (Monday, National Holiday) Kyoto International Community House Screening

• I had heard of the disease, but I learned for the first time that there are various symptoms and that it is difficult to diagnose even with tests. It's hard for people to understand about illnesses, and there is the conflicting desire to hide them from others, but also to have them understand. This movie made me think about how to live in that environment and how to live with the disease. I'm very glad I watched it. • I was impressed by the long life, the experiences and methods to live. I felt the greatness of the will to live. • The surgery scene was shocking. Everyone has a different illness. I think there are many people who are suffering, so I hope that more people will understand, even if just a little. I didn't know about this disease until I read the newspaper article. But now my hands are shaking and I'm having trouble holding a pencil. I feel like this problem has eased a little today. I don't know if it's dystonia, but I hope it will move in a positive direction. • I thought I had some knowledge about it because I have a family member with dystonia, but I felt like I understood a little about the true pain that the person is going through after watching today's movie. I think that the great power of movies is that they allow you to "learn things you don't know." • I know someone with dystonia, and I knew his symptoms, but I was surprised to learn that there are many different symptoms. I liked how the talk was told calmly without any unnecessary production. • I was able to understand dystonia better. I think I can understand my son a little better. • The more I learned about dystonia, the more mysterious it felt. I was moved by how everyone's expressions and thoughts were positive and cheerful, even though it was difficult in daily life. • I only knew a little about dystonia, so I realized that it is such a wide range of diseases. • I was diagnosed with psychogenic dysphonia, and although it is not spasmodic, I was very concerned about it. There were some parts where our symptoms and feelings were very similar, and I almost cried. I don't have anyone around me with the same disease, but I'm glad I was able to come and see it. • I also have fibromyalgia, which causes pain all over my body and is of unknown cause, and chemical hypersensitivity, which causes me to react to chemicals in all kinds of places in my life and suffer. I was very impressed by what Mr. Sato said at the beginning, "It's strange to have an incurable disease, even though we have the same disease..." I also find comfort in interacting with people who have the same disease, but I also feel that in order to make political progress, it is very important for organizations dealing with different serious illnesses to connect with each other and campaign together.

Screening at Ota Ward Civic Plaza, Tokyo on Monday, November 4, 2013

• I myself had no knowledge of this disease, so I learned a lot. I hope that this film will deepen correct knowledge about this disease and create an environment where people who suffer from this disease can live a little more easily. • I realized that I am living in my own narrow world. There are many things we don't know. Please make full use of the power of the camera. Documentaries should not only be screened, but I hope that they will be screened many times in various places. • I was able to hear the stories of people with dystonia without preconceptions, and it was very easy to understand, and I learned about the difficulties they face. I hope that this film will help spread awareness of dystonia. • I feel that it is difficult to express in words, but it gave me a lot of courage. Thank you. • The truth is more real than fiction. Each and every word spoken by the patients carried a lot of weight. I think that illnesses often develop without a clear causal relationship. That is why people blame their own actions and look for reasons. It was a wonderful film that gives courage to all people who suffer from illness. Once again, I would like to express my respect. Thank you. • My mother has dystonia, so I came here to learn more. She says she wants to get rid of her dystonia. I feel like I got some hints on how my elderly mother should deal with this condition in the future. • This was the first time I'd heard of dystonia, an incurable disease. However, when I heard the symptoms, some of my friends around me thought it might be the cause. I thought it was a documentary film, so I thought it would be heavy, tearful, etc., but I was able to watch it naturally, which I thought was good. I felt that the cheerfulness of the lead actor changed the heavy subject matter. Thank you very much. • It would be good to hold screenings here and there, even if it's on a small scale. I would like to cooperate if there is anything I can do to have it designated as an incurable disease. (Signing a petition, perhaps?) • It was a film about cheerful people.

Screening at Ota Ward Civic Plaza, Tokyo on Monday, November 4, 2013

October 19, 2013 (Saturday) Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital Main Conference Room Preview

• I had a difficult impression of this film because it was a documentary, but overall it was a wonderful film that really explained what kind of disease dystonia is and what people suffer from. There were many funny parts, and I was able to enjoy watching it without getting bored at all. I have suffered from dystonia for 18 years, and I want more people to watch this film and know what kind of disease dystonia is. • I really sympathized with Haru's words that she wants people to understand, but she also wants to hide it. I want many people to see this film so that people with diseases that are difficult to understand can live their lives as they are. • My wife has dystonia, and I realized that we all have the same feelings of anxiety about the disease and the same desire for others to understand. I hope that this film will help as many people as possible to learn about dystonia. • After watching the film, I realized that patients suffer unimaginably because of the low awareness of the disease "dystonia". There are patients even among people in the music industry close to me. I hope it can be screened in a place where musicians gather. • I watched the film without knowing anything about the disease dystonia. There is no big or small suffering, and I realized that I shouldn't make assumptions based on my own experiences. There was a lot I didn't know, and I don't think I'd be able to do anything big just because I knew, but if someone close to me was told they had dystonia, I think I would be able to sympathize with them more than I did before I knew. I thought Kawabata's work was wonderful. • Contrary to my expectations, it was very easy to watch. I was a bit surprised. There was probably quite a lot of information in the sense that I learned things I didn't know, but it came in without any resistance and left me with a refreshing aftertaste. There were some scenes that made me laugh, too. I think the director's stance is probably a big factor, but I think a big factor is that all the actors are so charming.