The Unfixing

From Women Make Movies

Directed by Nicole Betancourt

87 minutes / Color
Closed Captioned
Release: 2025
Copyright: 2025

After a surfing accident triggers inexplicable symptoms that leave Nicole unable to work or parent her children, she embarks on a quest of self-discovery. Guided by dreams, nature, and wisdom from others, she weaves an immersive diary of destruction, trauma, love, and renewal. Her journey transforms grief into a new story as she begins to see beauty and regeneration in the world around her.

Nicole faces the overwhelming challenges of personal and global loss as her children inherit a world plagued by environmental crises. Her older child, Pilar, becomes gravely ill with chronic Lyme disease, a condition exacerbated by climate change. As Pilar struggles with paralysis and an inability to attend school, Nicole’s survival strategy of resilience—built on her own experience of loss—begins to unravel. Faced with mounting grief, Nicole spirals into despair, questioning her will to continue.

A vision of her late father, who died of AIDS when it was poorly understood, sparks a turning point. His peace inspires Nicole to confront the heartbreak surrounding her—polluted oceans, burning forests, dying species, and her family’s health struggles.

With restored spirit, Nicole manages to hike to an alpine lake, where a moment of connection with wild Gray Jays fills her with awe and renewal. Accepting that she is just a small part of the planet that created her, Nicole finds the strength to embrace possibility and hope. Her sorrow transforms to a fresh narrative, one that sees loss as an opportunity to forge a future of resilience and togetherness.

Reviews

"THE UNFIXING is gorgeous, incredibly deep and wide, and truthful. Its prescription has good results in one swallow."
Shelia Nevins Winner of 11 Oscars, 31 Emmys, & 42 Peabodys

"THE UNFIXING is completely stunning and powerful, making us think and contemplate connections between things that people don't usually make, and the film is groundbreaking in that way. It is visceral, relatable, mystical, and spiritual."
Alan Berliner Emmy Award winner & Guggenheim Fellow

"Wholly original cinema that people hope to see at a film festival....The clever structure (in yearly segments tied to climate change) and repeated motifs (of photography, the beach and grief) make this an art film inside a memoir."
The Movie Gourmet

"The Unfixing is an absolutely remarkable film and it is so artistically told. This is ultimately a film that is so full of hope."
Thoughtline KFJC 89.7 Radio

Citation

Coming soon.

Cataloging

A MARC record for this title is not available yet.

Keywords
fibromyalgia,lyme disease,immune disorders,environmental impact,; "The Unfixing"; Women Make Movies
Clips
No clips are available yet.

Credits

Composer : Bray Poor
Producer : Rose Kowalski, Nicole Betancourt
Consulting Producers : Jeanne Betancourt, Cynthia Kane, Sheila Nevins, Brad Poor
Directors of Photography: Anna Molins, Andrew DeNatale, Braulio Jatar, Nicole Betancourt
Editor: Nicole Betancourt
Sound Designer : Bray Poor
Color Grader : Cristóbal Bolaños
Re-recording Mixer : Dani Zacarias

Selected Accolades

  • Audience Award Best Feature 2nd Vermont Film & Folklore Festival, 2025
    Between The Blue and Green, UK - Winner BEST DOCUMENTARY
    Cambridge Film Festival, UK, 2025 - NOMINEE GOLDEN PUNT AWARD FOR BEST DISCOVERY FILM
    Worcester Film Festival, UK, 2025, NOMINEE BEST DOCUMENTARY
    Between The Blue And Green Film Festival, UK, 2025 BEST DRAMA OR DOCUMENTARY AWARD
    Sustain Film Festival, UK, 2025, BEST SUSTAINABILITY FILM
    Cerdanya Film Fest, Spain, 2025, BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
    Cerdanya Film Fest, Spain, 2025, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
    Vermont Film And Folklore Festival, USA, 2025, AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE
    Cerdanya Film Festival, Spain - Upcoming
    HerDocs, Poland – Upcoming
    Sustain Film Festival, UK - Upcoming
    Worcester Film Festival, UK – Upcoming
    Between The Blue and Green, 2025
    North American Premiere - 35th Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival, San Jose 2025
    Our Fragile Moment Art Exhibit and The Unfixing Workshop, 2025
    Millenium Film Festival, 2025
    Belgrade Documentary Film Festival DOK#7, 2025
    World Premiere 28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival, 2024
    NYC Community Gardens, Interactive Video/Sound Events, 2021, 2022
    Festival de Cine Internacional de Aranda, Aranda del Duero, Spain, 2025
    HER Docs, Poland, 2025
    Festival Internacional de Cine Animal y Ambiental, Mexico, 2025
    Memorimage International Film Festival, Spain, 2025
    SUNCINE Film Festival, Spain, 2025