Writer-Director's Statement
TALISHA ELGER
For the past year and a half, I’ve been on a frustrating journey with my gynecological health, facing problems that should be simple to solve but seem impossibly complex. Despite seeking advice from numerous medical professionals, I found myself at a dead end, with the most practical advice being to ‘do nothing.’ What’s shocking is that this approach—doing nothing—was actually the best I received, compared to the whirlwind of experimental solutions thrown at me in the past. Am I better? No. I still don’t have a solution.
This is the heartbreaking reality of women’s health. When ‘nothing’ is the safest option, it’s a clear sign that something is deeply broken in the system. My frustration, pain, and confusion have pushed me to write something close to my heart, to shed light on the alarming gaps in care for women. It’s time for this conversation and this is what inspired me to write “SYRINGE.”
As a psychological quasi-horror, my objective is to craft a film that not only captivates audiences but also serves as a commentary on the enduring struggles women face as they strive to navigate a medical industry which was built by and for men. My affinity for the horror and thriller genres stems from their capacity to offer an alternative lens through which to address subjects that demand substantive discourse— a paradigm exemplified by Jordan Peele's "GET OUT" and paralleled by references such as "PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN", "SWALLOW", "TITANE" and "BLUE VELVET". Within the tapestry of "SYRINGE" thematic explorations encompass varying facets of femininity, the pervasive male gaze, patriarchal influences, female body autonomy, and above all, women's health.
Producer's Statement
LARA MARKS
For many years I have been perplexed by the shortcomings that pervade the female health industry, particularly when it comes to the limitations of contraceptive methods and reproductive health. There is an overwhelming lack of research on women’s health and, as a result, women are forced to deal with a deficient understanding of the functioning of their own bodies. Modern medicine all too often focuses on finding a quick fix, such as the administering of a quick pill, rather than searching for the root cause of an issue. When I was 18 I was prescribed birth control by a male gynaecologist and soon afterwards developed extreme anxiety. I blamed my symptoms on external factors, oblivious to the detrimental effects the pill was having on my hormones and mental health. When I finally went to see a doctor, his response was not to take me off the birth control, but to prescribe me antidepressants.
To me this perfectly sums up modern medicine’s approach to women’s health. This is the sad reality that almost all the women in my life deal with daily, each one with their own anecdotes depicting similar experiences. With "SYRINGE" we hope to shed light on these issues and the struggles that women face every day as they seek to attain agency and feel empowered in their bodies. We hope that our story can offer women some solace and support, as well as promoting increased investment into the various fields within women’s health.