Unusual diseases, disorders and ailments are a common subject for news stories and documentaries, but what makes Twisted --a film by Laurel Chiten about people suffering from the neurological disorder dystonia-- so interesting is that Chiten herself suffers from the disorder. It gives the documentary an intimacy you wouldn't find elsewhere, and it's clear that Chiten's subjects feel a kinship with her and are willing to open themselves up to her about what it's like to live with the disorder.
Dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes a person to lose control of some or all of their muscles. Cases can range from mild (uncontrollable head ticks) to severe (constant body spasms). Twisted focuses on people with various degrees of the disorder, how they manage day to day living, and how doctors are using new techniques to help these people lead some semblance of a normal life again. Really, though, the documentary isn't so much about the disorder as it is about the people, and how they lead relatively normal lives.
Twisted will be showcased on the PBS series Independent Lens January 30 at 10:00pm.
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