The Enigma of Sleep

The Enigma of Sleep tells the story of how sleep disorders have radically affected lives: Generations of a family afflicted with a rare and lethal form of insomnia; a narcoleptic painter whose life is half dream, half reality; nocturnal life of a sleep-walker; a lifeguard who has apneas 600 times during sleep; an ex-boxer whose career was KO-ed by narcolepsy; a man who is the world's only documented case of sleep without REM.

What they are all looking for is a solution to the mysterious disturbances that afflict them. Thanks to developments in sleep science, some sufferers can be cured. For others, however, sleep disturbances remain invincible, because even for the leading experts sleep is still very much an enigma.

Team Partner

Massimo Arvat, producer
Sergio Fergnachino, director

Producer / Production Details

Zenit Arti Audiovisive in association with Les Films d’Ici for ZDF/ARTE
With participation of Discovery Channel, RTSI, YLE Teema
Supported by CNRS, Emilia-Romagna Film Commission, Bologna Film Commission
Distributed by GA&A