A West Lothian group that gives invaluable support to women suffering from endometriosis is bringing its fight to the big screen.
Endo Warriors is an independent support, action and awareness group, founded in 2017 by Candice McKenzie and Claire Beatie.
The volunteers dedicate their time to raising awareness of endometriosis while supporting , guiding and empowering their community and members.
Now the group is delighted to give everyone the opportunity to come along with friends and family to see firsthand what it means to be an ‘Endo Warrior’.
Working collaboratively with Emily Beany Artist, filmmaker and PhD researcher, the girls have created ‘Deviant’, a short film that aims to show the internal sensations, thoughts and emotions of the endometriosis experience that remains hidden or unheard.
And the film has been selected for a film festival in Beijing and possibly Brazil.
Candice explained: “Deviant is an experimental moving-image work that seeks to represent lived experiences of endometriosis.
“It aims to tackle health inequalities and ‘diagnostic imperialism’, which exerts power over who has access to support and who does not.
“The project examines the label of ‘deviance’ when applied to women’s bodies, using endometriosis as a potent example of pain being sidelined as deviance.
“Honest, down-to-earth anecdotes are strikingly interwoven through the piece, making uneasy but “informative" listening.
"Tales of not being seen or understood, of being judged and discarded by friends, family, and a healthcare system that continues to perpetuate inequalities combine to make jaggedly clear how life-changing and debilitating the chronic pain of endometriosis can be.
“The 16mm moving image work was developed collaboratively and took around a year to collect all the materials necessary
for Emily to make such a thought provoking piece.
“This was achieved through workshops exploring sound, movement and form, with us, exploring themes of stigma, chronic pain and collective care, unpredictable rhythms of endometriosis experience inform, mark and interrupt the filmic body.
“Huge thanks to Reconnect Regal Theatre in Bathgate for donating their cinema to us, Pete and team have been amazing.”
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition thought to be driven by the hormones oestrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body.
In women with endometriosis, cells similar to those of the womb lining (the endometrium) are found in other parts of the body, most commonly in the pelvis (e.g. on
the lining of the wall of the pelvis; or in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowel or ligaments supporting the womb).
Cells can also be found between the womb and rectum, or between the rectum and the vagina and lungs, kidneys and muscle.
Where patches of endometriosis thicken and are shed there is no way for them to leave the body.
This causes inflammation and can cause scar tissue to form.
The body’s responses to the inflammation and scar tissue is feeling much pain and discomfort.
A special screening of the film will be held at the Reconnect Regal on April 23 with a question and answer session.
Check the theatre’s website for details of times.
Search Endo Warriors West Lothian on social media platforms for more information.
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