Schizophrenia. Growing up, I was acutely aware of the reality of this term because my biological mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia very shortly before I was born. Prior to that, she was married, had children, and owned a small hair salon and barbershop with her then-husband. Due to her illness, she lost the life she once had. Over the years, my mother lived in various homes with friends and family, and later in assisted living facilities. Despite this, my siblings and I remain close, and we have taken on the responsibility of her care.

Living our lives as the children of a mother with severe mental illness made us especially privy not only to the unfortunate way society treats these individuals, but also to how they are treated by their own families, who often deem them outcasts or, sadly, even pretend they no longer exist. My siblings and I have had a front-row seat to the hidden struggles of those with severe mental illness and their loved ones.

So, based on a collection of distinct memories and experiences, I’m crafting this film to capture the realities that can come with having a schizophrenic mother, specifically during a major life event, such as childbirth, and the experience of wrestling with raw emotions while attempting to protect the feelings of the one who hurt you.