Giannina & Lewy

Clips

Giannina & Lewy — Clip A
Giannina & Lewy — Clip B

Synopsis

Giannina is a time traveler. She’s walking home from elementary school one minute, the next she’s watching her daughter graduate from university. Giannina suffers from Lewy body dementia (LBD), a common but little-known illness that affects millions and is second only to Alzheimer's in dementia diagnosis.

In the fall of 2014, Giannina’s husband Primo passed away, and essentially, she left with him. This life changing event shocked her deeper into illness. Her

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Giannina is a time traveler. She’s walking home from elementary school one minute, the next she’s watching her daughter graduate from university. Giannina suffers from Lewy body dementia (LBD), a common but little-known illness that affects millions and is second only to Alzheimer's in dementia diagnosis.

In the fall of 2014, Giannina’s husband Primo passed away, and essentially, she left with him. This life changing event shocked her deeper into illness. Her memory was replaced with visual hallucinations, and her hurried pace with a hospital bed. After many failed attempts to treat her, she was eventually diagnosed with LBD.

Though it is second only to Alzheimer’s in the number of people it affects worldwide, many still aren’t familiar with the condition. LBD patients experience hallucinations, memory loss, an inability to understand information, paranoia, problems with movement like Parkinson's and uniquely, a loss of their sense of smell.

Primo worked abroad for most of his life and only came home on holidays. It was just Giannina and her daughter Tiziana (Titi) at home. Their relationship was not always easy, with Giannina showing symptoms of depression and anxiety disorder early-on. Tiziana moved to the United States as an adult, but now regularly returns home for several months at a time to care for her mother. Primo's passing left the two alone-together again, to work through this new reality.

Giannina is my grandmother (my nonna) and I grew up spending summers with her and nonno Primo. I worked in Europe for few years and requested to be transferred to the village my family is from — where she lives. I would visit her dementia care facility several times a week and fill-in for the caregiver on weekends, sometimes with my camera, sometimes without. I learned a lot about Lewy body dementia. I’m based in the U.S. again but visit regularly.

The lead up and diagnosis process were difficult for several reasons. My grandmother’s mental health and how to properly take care of it has been an issue her whole life. Unchecked depression and anxiety lead to a lot of coping mechanisms that covered up the early Lewy body signs. It also meant anything “off” seemed like an extension of her phobias and neurosis. As mentioned above, LBD is misunderstood and under-represented. Though it’s common, few people know about it and misdiagnosis is dangerous.

This film is necessary because it will help spread awareness about LBD and hopefully get people the treatment they need. There’s no cure (yet) but we can work to alleviate some of the suffering caused from mistreating the illness. Suffering that not only the patient is experiencing, but that loved ones, caregivers and health professionals must experience as well.

Working thoughtfully and respectfully on stories in the past as prepared me for the emotional challenges involved in working not only with my family members, but with nonna in particular… who no longer remembers my name. She doesn't seem to see herself as hospital-bed-bound and scattered. She sees herself as a schoolgirl, a seamstress and a newlywed. In the short: she will be represented as the whole person that she is, not solely identified by her LBD diagnosis.

Giannina & Lewy is the most personal project I’ve ever worked on, and I look forward to connecting with others through this film.

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Background

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s, yet it remains under diagnosed and misunderstood. Affecting over 1.4 million people in the United States alone, this condition includes: hallucinations, memory loss, paranoia, difficulty processing information and Parkinson’s-like movement issues. The stakes of misdiagnosis are profound, as incorrect treatments can exacerbate LBD symptoms, with potentially fatal consequences.

This

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Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s, yet it remains under diagnosed and misunderstood. Affecting over 1.4 million people in the United States alone, this condition includes: hallucinations, memory loss, paranoia, difficulty processing information and Parkinson’s-like movement issues. The stakes of misdiagnosis are profound, as incorrect treatments can exacerbate LBD symptoms, with potentially fatal consequences.

This project tackles the urgency of raising awareness about LBD. Despite its prevalence, public understanding of LBD is limited, leading to delays in accurate diagnosis and immense suffering for patients and their families. By bringing a deeply personal perspective to this overlooked condition, Giannina & Lewy seeks to humanize the illness and provide a platform for those affected by it.

The themes of caregiving and mental health further deepen the film’s resonance. Giannina’s lifelong struggles with depression and anxiety masked the early signs of her illness, complicating her diagnosis and underscoring the systemic gaps in how mental health and neurodegenerative diseases are addressed. These challenges are familiar to many families, especially in societies where caregiving resources are scarce.

There are not many documentaries exploring the topic of Lewy body dementia. There’s Robin’s Wish, which chroniclesRobin Williams’ LBD diagnosis, and the more recent Facing the Wind follows a friendship and the complications of caregiving. LBD is rarely mentioned in narrative film, but [spoiler alert] a character in The Penguin lives with the illness. Representation of LBD in literature is extremely low, while Alzheimer's is featured widely. Increasing awareness is crucial to helping millions of people around the world recognize, live with and receive proper care for LBD.

The timeliness of this film is undeniable. As populations age worldwide, neurodegenerative diseases like LBD are becoming more common, amplifying the need for education and advocacy. Caregiving is thankfully getting more attention (a result of years of activism) but significant policy and public attitude changes must be made in order for caregivers to get the support and respect deserved. By exploring these issues through the lens of an intimate family story, the film has the power to connect deeply with audiences, inspire empathy, and spark broader conversations about dementia, caregiving and healthcare equity.

Through Giannina’s story, Giannina & Lewy highlights the urgent need for better diagnosis and treatment of LBD, while addressing universal questions of identity and human connection.

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Style & Tone

Artistic Approach: Giannina & Lewy is a personal film that seeks to illuminate the fragmented and fluid reality of living with Lewy body dementia. While it is impossible for me to truly understand what it feels like to live with dementia, this film uses creative elements such as animation to approximate Giannina’s perceived reality as we interpret it. The goal is not to define her experience but to offer viewers a glimpse into her world as expressed through her

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Artistic Approach: Giannina & Lewy is a personal film that seeks to illuminate the fragmented and fluid reality of living with Lewy body dementia. While it is impossible for me to truly understand what it feels like to live with dementia, this film uses creative elements such as animation to approximate Giannina’s perceived reality as we interpret it. The goal is not to define her experience but to offer viewers a glimpse into her world as expressed through her actions, words and memories.

The film balances intimate realism with animated imagination to bridge the gap between Giannina’s lived experience and the audience’s understanding. Animation, archival footage, verité sequences, and carefully designed soundscapes work in harmony to recreate the interplay of memory, hallucination and reality that defines her daily life.

Animation as Interpretation: Animation is a key tool to visualize Giannina’s world as it appears to her, or as we can perceive it from her expressions and behaviors. The sequences are inspired by her words, stories, and hallucinations, and they aim to honor her reality rather than impose an external narrative. These moments are designed with simplicity and fluidity to reflect the transitions between her fragmented memories and vivid hallucinations.

Cinematography: Naturalistic footage of Giannina’s surroundings will contrast with the dreamlike quality of the animations, grounding the audience in her physical environment while highlighting the disconnect between what she sees and what others perceive. The footage is shot with a mix of phone and camera work.

Sound Design: The audio will weave together natural sounds from her village (church bells, birds, lake water) with original music of family tradition, particularly her brother Telo's accordion playing. These sounds will echo her mental state, shifting from harmonious to discordant to mirror her moments of clarity and confusion.

Editing: Sharp cuts and fade-to-black transitions will replicate Giannina’s quick shifts in thought, while smoother transitions will guide the audience in more lucid moments, creating a rhythm that mirrors her lived experience.

Ethical Considerations: The film addresses the ethical complexities of portraying someone who cannot provide consent due to the advanced stage of her dementia. I am guided by my understanding of Giannina’s personality and values. My mother, who is Giannina’s legal guardian, has been actively involved in shaping the film and fully supports its creation. I believe nonna would trust me to tell her story with sensitivity and a commitment to portraying her as a full person, not solely defined by her diagnosis.

Engagement: The film’s artistic approach will immerse audiences in Giannina’s world. The juxtaposition of raw, intimate moments with imaginative, interpretive visuals will keep viewers engaged, while the universal themes of love and loss connect emotionally. I hope the film will encourage reflection and empathy, Giannina & Lewy is exremely personal and universally relatable.

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Our Ask

Story:

I would appreciate some feedback on the arc and presentation of the story. Talking to a storyteller with experience in sensitive subject matter (especially with a family, caregiving or dementia focus). I participated in DocShop and found the community and notes helpful in progressing and enhancing the project.

Post:

Funding for post (color correction, sound design).
Funding to create and complete the animation.
Funding to design and complete the score.

Impact:

Any experience in European funding or distribution, specifically in Italy / parts of Switzerland.
Funding for impact strategy, design and implementation.

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Giannina & Lewy

Logline

Clips

Participants

Giannina Luini

Tiziana Piazza Carroll

Team

Maggie Carroll

Tiziana Piazza Carroll

Gualtiero Luini

Leah N Nichols

Umberto Smerilli

Our Ask