Dementia touches nearly all of our lives in some way, whether it is through a loved one, a friend, or a member of our community. This reality served as the inspiration for our story, a deeply personal one for my co-writer Emmanuel Epenge based on true events. It was made with an entirely Congolese cast and Congolese artists behind the camera, a collaboration in which I am incredibly grateful to have participated.

Shot on location in the Barumbu neighbourhood of Kinshasa, the story is told almost entirely from the perspective of our young protagonist. It hovers tonally at the intersection of two genres, a drama with whispers of horror, as young Prisca tries to decipher the truth of whether her grandmother is under the influence of the supernatural. All cinematic choices, from framing and colour to pacing and sound, flow from this tension, and this is ultimately where we feel the story reveals its humanity.

Emmanuel and I met in Ireland in 2022 during our residency at the Global Brain Health Institute, a fellowship dedicated to advancing dementia research, treatment, prevention, and advocacy across the world. Despite coming from vastly different backgrounds, we quickly connected over a shared conviction: the right of every individual to age with dignity. For us, this means not only ensuring that people with age-related disabilities receive the care they need but also working to dismantle the stigma that so often surrounds cognitive and psychological conditions. These values form the foundation of our collaboration, the beating heart of this film, and are shared by the cast and crew who brought it into reality.

The Mutandila family’s story in this film reflects the challenges faced by many families across Congo, as they strive to support loved ones with cognitive and psychological conditions. The film does not offer easy answers, but it is our hope that Koko Suzanne sparks vital conversations, challenges entrenched stigma, and, ultimately, helps foster more compassionate perceptions of people living with these disabilities.

— Zach Bandler, Director