In France, more than 270,000 people live with Parkinson’s disease, and thousands of new cases are diagnosed each year. Yet it’s a disease that is largely misunderstood by the general public. In fact, 7 out of 10 French people are unable to identify its most disabling motor symptoms: movements that become painfully slow until the body completely locks up.
A campaign made to make you feel the severity of the disease
On the occasion of World Parkinson’s Day on April 11, France Parkinson launches a new communication campaign to confront public perception and reveal the true reality of the disease. A reminder of the urgent need to support research.
“Parkinson’s disease is not just about tremors. It is a condition that can make you feel as though your own body has become a prison,” the association stresses.
Through this campaign, France Parkinson sheds light on what patients live through every day: the gradual, irreversible feeling of being trapped inside one’s own body a silent, progressive confinement.
Because behind the familiar image of trembling lies a severe neurodegenerative disease that profoundly impact daily life.
A body that freezes, resists, and eventually becomes immobile
At the heart of the campaign is a powerful image: a body caught in a latex material that slowly tightens, suffocating every attempt to move. It embodies what patients experience: a body that slows, hardens, locks, and ultimately stops responding. The campaign pushes this feeling of confinement to its most extreme expression, making visible what is usually unseen.
A 360° campaign featuring writer Leïla Slimani
Launched on April 13, the campaign comes to life through a 360° media rollout. At its heart is a powerful film produced by Hiersoir and directed by Lucie Bourdeu (Cannes Lions Gold Award winner in 2025 for One Birthday Too Many), broadcast across television, cinemas, online video platforms, and digital out-of-home.
The campaign continues across press, social media, and a nationwide radio plan with four spots. Lending her voice to both the film and radio is Leïla Slimani, a committed ambassador since 2024, transforming the campaign into a powerful and personal call to action.
Hope will never abandon us
Because one in fifty people will be affected during their lifetime, France Parkinson works tirelessly every day to support patients, stand by their families, raise awareness, and drive forward vital research.
