Sâdan Hanım documentary explores life with Alzheimer's

The documentary film ‘Sâdan Hanım’, directed by Göksel Gülensoy, is set to be released in cinemas on September 18. The film documents the four-year journey of Sâdan Ünüvar, the director's mother-in-law, as she lived with Alzheimer's disease. Filmed between 2015 and 2018, the production utilizes over 140 hours of footage, combining real-life recordings with family archives and dramatic reenactments to portray the progression of the illness and its impact on the family.

To depict Sâdan Hanım's younger years, actress Canan Ergüder performs in the dramatic segments of the hybrid film. The release coincides with the week of World Alzheimer's Day.

In connection to the film's themes, medical experts and sociologists have highlighted the link between modern social conditions and neurological health. Prof. Dr. Başar Bilgiç, a professor at Istanbul University and head of the Medical Board of the Turkish Alzheimer's Association, has discussed how environmental and social factors may trigger the disease. Sociologists also note that increasing loneliness in modern society acts as a significant macro issue that may exacerbate health and care crises.