Cerebral Palsy Blues offers a deeply personal and unflinching look at the life of Johan Öberg, a man born with cerebral palsy. Johan’s journey began in Nyköping, Sweden, in 1991 when a medical misjudgment at birth resulted in his cerebral palsy. This experience and its ongoing impact are central themes that Johan reflects upon throughout the film.

The documentary's inception dates back to 2014 when Johan appeared as an extra in a short film Daniel Hållquist was working on. A chance encounter led to a connection based on a shared passion for film production and writing. Over the years, their interactions highlighted Johan’s growing frustration with the Social Insurance Agency's disability policy and the broader issue of societal polarization in Sweden.

As a caregiver since 2008, Hållquist has long been interested in the representation of people with disabilities in media. This documentary is a culmination of that interest and his desire to provide Johan with an uninterrupted platform to express his reality. Filming began in 2018 but was interrupted by the pandemic, extending the project’s timeline. After more than two years of dedicated editing, with the help of editor Anton Persson Flygare, the final product is a film that draws inspiration from American diarist filmmakers like Jonas Mekas and Jonathan Caouette.

“We are proud of the result,” says Hållquist. “The film offers a unique insight into life with cerebral palsy and is both realistic and poetic, angry yet life-affirming.”

Cerebral Palsy Blues captures Johan’s daily life, his struggles, and his resilience, presenting a narrative that is as intimate as it is universal.