What was filming the “breakdown” scene like? What are the ethics of filming such emotional and intimate moments?
Documenting Heidi’s trip carried an enormous emotional charge for us as filmmakers. From the very first moment in which mother and daughter embraced, we were exposed to a high degree of intensity in front of our camera. It was hard to hold back our own tears — and often we didn’t. Of course, the “breakdown” moment was without a doubt the biggest test of our ability to control our personal emotions while at the same time continuing our work as documentary filmmakers. The complexity of the situation hit us with an unexpected force as we witnessed the pain that Heidi and her mother were experiencing. There was no way we could have prepared ahead of time. It took us by surprise. Suddenly we had to find a balance between the respect we owed to Heidi and her family, the compassion we felt for everyone in the room, and our own emotions and reactions to the pain everyone was feeling — all this had to be balanced with our commitment as documentary filmmakers to capture the moment without intr
