We first became aware of Electric Malady in mid-2022 when it has its world premiere at the Copenhagen Documentary Film Festival CPH:DOX.
We were impressed by this touching documentary film that follows William, a young man who suffers from Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity. His reaction is so severe that he has retreated to a remote cabin in the Swedish wilderness and cut himself off from most forms of technology.
Shrouded in material, and sleeping in a foil-encased bedroom, William shares his deeply personal experience with Marie Lidén of suffering with this condition. who was so sensitive to electromagnetic fields that he is hiding in a cabin the Swedish woodland, cloaked in material.
What emerges is a heart-breaking and empathetic portrait of loneliness, isolation, and of a loving family efforts to save their son’s life. It is completely fascinating and we knew it would be a hit, so we interviewed the director last year to find out more.
Well, we’re also pleased to hear that the film has now beeen shortlisted for a BAFTA, and Swedish-born director Marie Lidén has been nominated in the category Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. The film is now set for release in UK/Irish cinemas from 3rd March 2023.
Director Marie Lidén said:
”Electric Malady is so important to me because of the voice I hope it will give to those suffering with electrosensitivity. In many cases these people’s stories are marginalised, because they cannot communicate the way we do through Internet or even using phones.
I’m also very aware of the boundaries exposed within the film, the questions raised about the differences between mental and physical symptoms, how we apply rules of diagnosis. I am excited by issues that straddle definition, where mainstream society wants to draw neat lines between the conscious and un-conscious, the psychological and the physiological, the real experience of people can be much more complex.
I believe we have to explore these boundaries and continually challenge them, to ensure we do give a voice to the marginalised.”
Electric Malady is released by Conic in UK/Irish cinemas 3rd March 2023. A Q&A tour with the director will visit selected cinemas nationwide and you can watch the BAFTA Awards this Sunday – 19th February.
Documentary / UK 2022 / Dir. Marie Lidén / Swedish / 84 min / Cert TBC
Screenings will be listed on www.conic.film/films/electricmalady