A work in progress project inspired by the Willard suitcase owners. Based upon the book 'The Lives they left behind: Suitcases from a state hospital Attic' written by Darby Penney, and Peter Stastny.

When Willard State Hospital closed its doors in 1995, after operating as one of New York State’s largest mental institutions for over 120 years, a forgotten attic filled with suitcases belonging to former patients was discovered. Using the possessions found in these suitcases along with institutional records and doctors’ notes from patient sessions, Darby Penney, a leading advocate of patients’ rights, and Peter Stastny, a psychiatrist and documentary filmmaker, were able to reconstruct the lives of ten patients who resided at Willard during the first half of the twentieth century.

Work in Progress Sharing performed at the Eden Studios Pankow Berlin

Devisers - Julia Van de Hof, Niall Fallon, Ainhoa Hevia Uria, Marina Zerva, Nathan Juwe.

Creator/Director - Angharad Matthews