A young art teacher struggles with pain in her hands. The pathology will initially prevent her from continuing to paint with the children, but, thanks to the treatments available, she will be able to get back to doing the job she loves. This is the story of “The wall“, The short film centered on the problem of rheumatological diseases chosen to be screened during the 2022 edition of the Giffoni Film Festival – the film festival for children and teenagers that will take place in Valle Piana (Salerno) – and premiered during the 58th Congress National Society of the Italian Society of Rheumatology (Sir) in Rimini.
The film was made between last September and October by boys between 18 and 28 years old, with the aim of informing and educating to recognize the symptoms of rheumatological diseases. The project saw the participation of ten screenwriters who were selected thanks to one call to action and who took part in a training course organized by Giffoni for the writing of the script. The chosen screenplay was then used for the short film (made thanks to the non-conditioning support of Abbvie, Galapagos, Pfizer and supporters Amgen and Novartis).
The scientific society and the festival collaborated together with the aim of creating a union between art and medicine to promote the prevention of these pathologies. “Rheumatological diseases don’t just affect the elderly. The most relevant, in most cases, concern patients not in advanced age, who today, however, can count on targeted therapies, which offer better prognoses than in the past “, he explains. Roberto Gerli, president of the Italian Society of Rheumatology: “The message we want to convey is the importance of early diagnosis, because, when identified in time, these pathologies can be better managed, symptoms can be contained, the patient’s quality of life improved and prevent irreversible damage that can be created. If you experience pain and swelling in various joints, especially in the hands and feet, joint stiffness in the morning, excessive fatigue, generalized asthenia with a sense of fatigue, it is necessary to be examined by a rheumatologist. Today – he concludes – we have the weapons to prevent damage, so we must start using them as soon as possible ”.
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