Best Known Secret
-BKS-
ONE out of FOUR people will be affected by mental illness at some point of their life experiencing heavy isolation and loneliness.
(World Health Organization)
We believe recovery can take place through the power of the community, reducing isolation and providing personal and social opportunities.
Silence and stigma are now challenged by a young generation inspired to take action and change the narrative.
Where are the hundreds, millions of people who live with a severe mental illness?
Over the past 4 years, Costanza, Bea, Tessi and Arvind have connected with a group of people scattered around the world who have chosen to confront and support each other in order to share a common struggle against social stigma and extreme isolation caused by their mental illness. BKS is the experience of a community breaking the silence to promote a new dialogue.
To change the narrative, the first step is to start talking about it.
Mental illness affects people of different economic backgrounds, cultures or ages.
Not having the opportunity to be heard speak for themselves, those living with mental illness are often isolated from society and their families. In fact, the tools of support and care are usually still mediated by the medical community world and there is no direct listening to the needs of those who suffer from experience such diseases.
We have had very privileged access to this complex world and the project has changed over time. In the nearly three years of filming and interviews we have realized that even today in various parts of the world the stigma and violation of the most basic personal rights isolates and hides these people, unable due to strong social prejudices to build a satisfying life.
Today things are slowly evolving: many are beginning to come out into the open and talk about their difficulties without shame, making their own choices. Giving a voice to those who wish to talk about their illness has become our main purpose.
This involvement has convinced us even more of the priority and enormous need for information and discussion, as has happened for other marginalized minority groups which are fighting in the front line for their cause.
International Festivals, Mentions and Prizes
During the distribution stage.
Data Sheet
Direction: Costanza Burstin.
Producer: Beatrice Bergamasco
Pre-production writing and film development: Beatrice Bergamasco - Costanza Burstin.
Post-production directing, writing and editing: Nicolás Braguinsky Cascini - Juan Pablo Aris Escarcena
Year (of production): 2024.
Country (of production): Switzerland, Italy.
Country (of filming): Milano, Italy; Baltimore and New York, United States; Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Running time: 1 hour 5 minutes.
Genre: documentary.
Resolution: 6k (24 fps).
Language: English, Italian, Spanish.
Subtitles: English, Italian, Spanish.
Cast: Costanza Burstin, Beatrice Bergamasco, Teresa Stellatelli, Michelle Rodriguez, Arvind Sooknanan, Ian Chen, Roberta Del Bene, Jamille Malcom, Catrien Eagles, Rita Larrañaga, Smriti Mehra, Juan Patricio Donnelly, Francesco Rizzi, Guido Valentini, Michael Adegboye, Nicolàs Perez, Rennie Rathour, Mark Jensen, Sarah Amechazurra, Stellatelli family, Leah Ilan, Kale Sartor, Samantha Mertz, Joel Corcoran.