Immunity is a documentary on the life of adult patients with primary immunodeficiency and on their resilience in spite of their condition. Matteo Pellegrinuzzi, a photographer living in Paris, is affected by a primary immunodeficiency, since birth. A bike enthusiast, on July 2019 he decides to undertake a challenge against himself and his condition: riding the 270 km that separate Paris from London in less than 24 hours to bring a message of hope to the patients and their families and to raise awareness on primary immunodeficiencies. The film follows the 8 months of preparation for this venture and is intercalated with the life of three other patients and their daily life.
Director Statement
The words "primary immunodeficiency" entered my life 13 years ago, the day when the man, who would have later become my husband,
told me that he suffered from a serious and rare disease since birth.
In fact, his body doesn't produce antibodies, which makes him vulnerable to infections and makes his life expectancy uncertain.
Despite the worries I might have had, I immediately accepted the "challenge". Today I share with him not only my life, but also my professional career.
Coming into contact with the primary immunodeficiencies was not easy at first. I knew nothing about this world that Matteo knew so well. Besides sharing a life with someone who has primary immunodeficiency means also making choices.
We will never travel around the world, live in a country without a good medical care system or just travel for more than two months: all that is not easy for two people like us, for whom traveling and meeting other cultures are important resources for our artistic activities.
At 22 years old, I had never visited a pediatric onco-hematology service, but for him it was rather normal, almost a banal experience. On
the other hand, it was very difficult for me, the first time I was present at his immunoglobulin therapy. Sitting by his side during his infusion, seeing the needle in his arm and at the same time chatting of this and that as we could have done in a bar, it was nothing short of shocking. To this upheaval, however, was added the one of meeting the gaze of sick children, in many cases, seriously ill children, because in Italy primary immunodeficiencies are often treated in pediatrics services, even in adulthood.
In the end, by dint of accompanying him, I finally got used to it, and the initial shock soon made way to the desire to tell this experience.
Four years ago, Matteo met the French association IRIS which supported his photographic project on primary immunodeficiencies.
After starting to take pictures of patients with that condition and watching the results of that work, we realized that all those people had strong stories that deserved to be told. Photography wasn't enough to fully illustrate them.
In the meantime, we have also faced the ignorance of family, friends and colleagues, who have no idea what Matteo's pathology is or the impact of his illness on our daily lives.
We have also noticed that patients ofren feel isolated and that there are very few opportunities to interact with other patients.
This documentary was therefore born with the desire to break the isolation in which patients often live. But it's above all a story of resilience, about the ability to make it through in spite of everything, and especially in spite of the disease. It is an ode to life, which deserves to be lived in spite of the difficulties we may face.
Immunity patients and Matteo's bike challenge teach us that anything is possible if we believe in it.
told me that he suffered from a serious and rare disease since birth.
In fact, his body doesn't produce antibodies, which makes him vulnerable to infections and makes his life expectancy uncertain.
Despite the worries I might have had, I immediately accepted the "challenge". Today I share with him not only my life, but also my professional career.
Coming into contact with the primary immunodeficiencies was not easy at first. I knew nothing about this world that Matteo knew so well. Besides sharing a life with someone who has primary immunodeficiency means also making choices.
We will never travel around the world, live in a country without a good medical care system or just travel for more than two months: all that is not easy for two people like us, for whom traveling and meeting other cultures are important resources for our artistic activities.
At 22 years old, I had never visited a pediatric onco-hematology service, but for him it was rather normal, almost a banal experience. On
the other hand, it was very difficult for me, the first time I was present at his immunoglobulin therapy. Sitting by his side during his infusion, seeing the needle in his arm and at the same time chatting of this and that as we could have done in a bar, it was nothing short of shocking. To this upheaval, however, was added the one of meeting the gaze of sick children, in many cases, seriously ill children, because in Italy primary immunodeficiencies are often treated in pediatrics services, even in adulthood.
In the end, by dint of accompanying him, I finally got used to it, and the initial shock soon made way to the desire to tell this experience.
Four years ago, Matteo met the French association IRIS which supported his photographic project on primary immunodeficiencies.
After starting to take pictures of patients with that condition and watching the results of that work, we realized that all those people had strong stories that deserved to be told. Photography wasn't enough to fully illustrate them.
In the meantime, we have also faced the ignorance of family, friends and colleagues, who have no idea what Matteo's pathology is or the impact of his illness on our daily lives.
We have also noticed that patients ofren feel isolated and that there are very few opportunities to interact with other patients.
This documentary was therefore born with the desire to break the isolation in which patients often live. But it's above all a story of resilience, about the ability to make it through in spite of everything, and especially in spite of the disease. It is an ode to life, which deserves to be lived in spite of the difficulties we may face.
Immunity patients and Matteo's bike challenge teach us that anything is possible if we believe in it.
Runtime: 50 minutes
Country of Origin: France
Country of Filming: France, Germany, United Kingdom
Language: French, Italian
Shooting Format: Digital
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Film Color: Color
Key Crew
Director: Sara Grimaldi
Writer: Sara Grimaldi
Cinematographers:
Sara Grimaldi
Matteo Pellegrinuzzi
Editor: Italo Scialdone
Composer: Luigi Scialdone
Technical Crew
Camera Operators:
Steven Gruen
Victor Salis
Sound Recordists:
Olivier Esman
Fabrice Valsin
Colorist: Jean Coudsi
Visual Effects: Gaston Marcotti
Sound Mixer: Olivier Esman