In the early 1970's, a mysterious ailment was discovered among children living around the town of Lyme, CT. What was first diagnosed as isolated cases of juvenile arthritis, eventually became known as Lyme disease, an illness triggered by spiral-shaped bacteria, similar to the microorganisms that cause syphilis. Many of those untreated will suffer chronic debilitating illness. Some unknowingly will pass the disease on to their unborn children. Many will lose their livelihoods, and still others, their lives.
Yet Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and controversial illnesses in America today. Difficult to test accurately, tens of thousands of people go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed—with such conditions as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, MS and ALS. The Centers for Disease Control admits that more than 200,000 people may acquire Lyme disease each year, a number greater than AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu combined. And yet, the medical establishment—with profound influence from the insurance industry—has stated that the disease is easily detectable and treatable, and that “chronic Lyme” is most likely either some other syndrome or a completely psychosomatic disorder.
UNDER OUR SKIN is a powerful and often terrifying look not only at the science and politics of the disease, but also the personal stories of those whose lives have been affected and nearly destroyed. From a few brave doctors who risk their medical licenses, to patients who once led active lives but now can barely walk, the film uncovers a hidden world that will astound viewers. While exposing a broken health care and medical research system, the film also gives voice to those who believe that instead of a crisis, Lyme is simply a "disease du jour," over diagnosed and contributing to another crisis: the looming resistance of microbes and ineffectuality of antibiotics. As suspenseful and hair-raising as any Hollywood thriller, UNDER OUR SKIN is sure to get under yours.
CREDITS
Produced, Directed & Photographed by
ANDY ABRAHAMS WILSON
Edited by
EVA ILONA BRZESKI
Music by
JUSTIN MELLAND
Senior Producer
KRIS NEWBY
Co-Producers
CHERYL DRAKE
EVE MORGENSTERN
Associate Producer & Assistant Editor
RENNY MCCAULEY
Executive Producer
THE SWARTZ FOUNDATION
Outreach Partner
TURN THE CORNER FOUNDATION
Associate Producer
VIRGINIA LYNCH DEAN
Editorial Consultants
LAUREL CHITEN
NATHANIEL DORSKY
Animation
ALLIGATOR PLANET
ELI NOYES, DIRECTOR
CATHERINE MARGERIN, ANIMATOR
Additional Camera
IAN CHENEY
RENNY MCCAULEY
JONATHON SKURNIK
SHARI MOORE
ZACH MAUPIN
PETER ROOF
Sound
JONATHON SKURNIK
ALAN SELK
MARK SPAGNOLO
Online Edit & Color Correction
MARC CEBRIAN
ROUGH HOUSE EDITORIAL
Sound Design & Mix
MARK ESCOTT
ROBERT BERKE SOUND
Major Funding
ANONYMOUS
GIB & SUSAN MYERS
THE FRANK & DENISE QUATTRONE FOUNDATION
THE PURPLE MONKEY FUND
KENNETH BROAD
KAREN KISSLING
THE NATHAN CUMMINGS FOUNDATION
THE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
ELIZABETH AUSTIN & FAMILY
THE CULLEN-MARTIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
ERIK & MARY GIESE
THE KORTSCHAK FAMILY FOUNDATION
STEVEN & JANET KOUROUBACALIS
THE RINKLE FAMILY FOUNDATION
