The morning opens with what appears to be an exorcism as the family matriarch, Koko (Alphie Lotawa), is possessed. Some days she’s normal, and some days she’s not. Today, she bursts out at her daughter, accusing her of poisoning her food. As a result, her children bring in a medicine man to perform an exorcism over what they see as Koko’s witchcraft.
When Koko decides to see a doctor, she receives the true diagnosis. Koko suffers from dementia. Her children have never heard of dementia and are at a loss as they struggle to reconcile the spiritual and the mental.
“The morning opens with what appears to be an exorcism as the family matriarch, Koko (Alphie Lotawa), is possessed.”
Filmmaker Zach Bandler presents an issues-based story as dementia is a relatively new discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the surrounding region, which explains the behavior of many of the elderly. Unfortunately, because they believe it to be a problem of demon possession, the treatment is harsh—and driven by ignorance.
Zach Bandler and Emmanuel Epenge wrote this story with the shared goal of bringing awareness to dementia in the senior community. They seek to spread a shared conviction about “the right of every individual to age with dignity.”
Shot with an all-Congolese cast and crew, Koko Suzanne stands as an authentic, powerful, and insightful story challenging outdated beliefs about mental health.
For screening information, visit the Koko Suzanne official website.
"…the right of every individual to age with dignity."
