Shattered Dreams
Shattered Dreams is a powerful and emotional exploration of the experiences of a family forced to deal with the tragedy of schizophrenia in a loved one; not once, but twice. The Martini family of Calgary lived through the turmoil of losing their youngest son Ben to schizophrenia and eventually suicide, only to discover six years later that a second son, Liv, has developed the disease. Clem Martini, a third brother, narrates the film, sharing with us his family's journey through a world of confusion, guilt, loss and ultimately, hope. (Broadcast on CBC's Man Alive series.)
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Shattered Dreams is a powerful and emotional exploration of the experiences of a family forced to deal with the tragedy of schizophrenia in a loved one; not once, but twice. The Martini family of Calgary lived through the turmoil of losing their youngest son Ben to schizophrenia and eventually suicide, only to discover six years later that a second son, Liv, has developed the disease. Clem Martini, a third brother, narrates the film, sharing with us his family's journey through a world of confusion, guilt, loss and ultimately, hope. (Broadcast on CBC's Man Alive series.)
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directorWendy Hill-Tout
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producerDale Phillips
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executive producerGraydon McCrea
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cinematographyJames Jeffrey
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soundGeorge TarrantPer Asplund
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editingPer Asplund
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sound editingPer Asplund
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re-recordingDavid Cochrane
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narratorClem Martini
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musicDean MilesDavid Hill-Tout
Warnings: Suicide (gun use), some offensive language (term used derogatively for a person with an intellectual disability), attempted suicide
How do different approaches from both parents and siblings define how the family deals with Ben’s suicide? What major shift happens when the family begins to work through Liv’s diagnosis? Does a mental health diagnosis such as schizophrenia have similar treatments today? Explore the evolution of treatment of schizophrenia from 1989, when this film was released, to today. How has the genetic component of schizophrenia affected Clem’s view of the world, his family and his ideas about mental health treatment in general?
