"Is a family with a disabled child a disabled family? For sixteen years, a group of parents has met every two weeks to talk about their daily lives and find ways to improve their children's futures. The group's founding principle is simple: help yourself so you can care for others. They tackle independence, sexuality, limits, guilt, the right to work — the same issues any parent and child face." (from the DVD synopsis).
The association that brings them together in Udine is called Vivere insieme — Living Together. Anna, a mother struggling with severe depression after her son's disability from an accident, reached out to the city's social services sixteen years ago. A social worker suggested she start a parents' group that could meet regularly and share their experiences. Since then, the parents — mothers, fathers, and siblings too — have continued to find the strength to live, because together, the burden weighs less. Now released on DVD with valuable bonus features, this documentary is respectful and honest. It offers genuine insights into the many challenges that life with disability inevitably brings.
Cristina Tersigni, 2016