The Periwig Maker
1999 | English | 15 Minutes | Germany and UK
Tracing the story of the global struggle to make HIV/AIDS drugs more affordable and available, A Human Question raises key questions of whether private ownership of knowledge can be at the costs of human life? The film explores the complex world of Patents and HIV/AIDS medicines by connecting and contrasting personal narratives with those of international lobbyists and activists.
A Human Question makes the case that although AIDS cannot be cured, people can live longer and with a better quality of life given adequate health care and access to drugs, both of which are cause and consequence of social change. This film has been screened at numerous international film festivals including HIMAL South Asian festival (2007), and Globale (2006).
The screening of this film was followed by a discussion between filmmaker T. Jayashree, and journalist Vikram Doctor.
About the Filmmakers
Annette and Steffen Schäffler, sister and brother, studied at film schools in Germany and founded their production company Ideal Standard Film in 1994. They went on to produce several short films and a 60 minute documentary. In most of their projects Steffen is the director and Annette the producer. The Periwig-Maker was their first animated short film, won more than 30 international prizes and was nominated for a Bafta and an Oscar.
