In the 27-minute experimental documentary Parasites: A User’s Guide, ecologist and filmmaker Sharon Shattuck argues for parasites as treatment for autoimmune diseases, asthma, and allergies. The documentary shows how tiny parasitic worms called 'helminths' can ease these diseases' symptoms.
Using a blend of handmade and digital animation and indie music, Sharon dives headlong into the controversial discourse surrounding 'helminthic therapy,' with help from scientific researchers, active patients and a renegade entrepreneur named Jasper Lawrence. Through the seeming oxymoron of the 'helpful parasite,' Sharon questions the nature of our relationship with parasites--and suggests a new paradigm for the future. "Parasites: A User’s Guide" is a film about ecology, healing, and worms.
According to an interview with Shattuck, "Parasites were the perfect subjects for me because I wanted to show some of these unlikely connections in a creative way — using animation, music and humor — but it wasn’t until I started really researching them that I discovered the world of people who are using parasites to overcome autoimmune diseases. I loved the juxtaposition of something that most people think is evil with what is in fact a very good thing: the curing, or at least abating, of disease symptoms. It was the perfect example of ecology helping people."
Later in the interview, Shattuck explained why she decided to tackle parasites: " I started working on the film before I became an intern with Radiolab, but once I found out that Radiolab would be doing an episode on parasites, even using some of my film’s characters (Jasper Lawrence, Dr. Joel Weinstock), I decided to step it up and not just explain the science behind the worms (called ‘helminths’), but question the prejudices that we all hold about certain words, and the consequences to our health. If helminths were called ‘probiotics’ instead of ‘parasites’ or ‘worms,’ would we view them any differently?
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