Loading ...“Amreeka” director Cherien Dabis’ next film will tell Hanna-Attisha’s story
BY: Michelle Dermarkar/Contributing Writer
An entire generation of children living in Flint, Michigan were being exposed to unsafe levels of lead until it was finally revealed by pediatrician, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha’s innovative research. When the city of Flint switched its water source from the Detroit River to the Flint River in April 2014, Flint’s children’s blood lead levels doubled.
Dr. Hanna-Attisha led her research after speaking with a former Environmental Protection Agency employee and water engineer.
A feature film will be dedicated to illustrate the Flint Water Crisis as well as show us the struggle an Iraqi-American immigrant went through in order to protect the children of Flint. The drama filled film was written and directed by Cherien Dabis, and produced by Anonymous Content’s Michael Sugar and Rosalie Swedlin. It was inspired by the global outrage that underprivileged children were being carelessly harmed by government officials who ignored the consequences.
“This is a personal story of how I, as an Iraqi-American immigrant, came to be a pediatrician in Flint and it is a story of science, medicine, justice, and democracy; of how they all intersect, and, ultimately, what we humans owe to each other. It is critically important to share the Flint story to spotlight that the crisis is ongoing and long-term support is still needed. My hope is that telling this story will also prevent anything like this from happening again; especially, in a political environment that questions science and undermines environmental and public health protections,” stated Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.
The film has the help of well-known directors and producers to gain the audience’s attention on this critical issue. Palestinian-American director, Cherien Dabis, was named one of Variety magazine’s 10 Directors to Watch back in 2009 and has produced popular television shows such as Empire and Quantico. Another well known producer is also Michael Sugar. He’s best known for co-producing Best Picture winning exposé, Spotlight and The Fifth Estate.
“This is a story of one woman’s perseverance to do what’s right in the face of unbelievable government deniability during what would become one of Michigan’s, and possibly the nation’s, biggest manmade health crises,” claimed Rosalie Swedlin who was one of the producers of HBO’s film, Live From Baghdad.
The filmmakers relate and admire Dr. Mona’s passion for public health and medicine. Appreciating the work Dr. Mona went through, Swedlin has said, “it is a story of how Dr. Mona, labelled an ‘unfortunate researcher,’ risked her career standing up for what was initially a local issue but that ultimately grew to have national and global implications. Public health policy has been made better today because of what one woman dared to do that other would not.”
Dabis praising Dr. Hanna-Attisha summed it all: “her courage, compassion and sheer determination to fight for this cause enlivens a fire in all of us, and it’s this spirit that will guide the film’s journey.”
