Robin Williams Had Lewy Body Dementia — Now, a New Documentary Explores Its Heartbreaking Impact on Caretakers (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Carla Preyer (right) with her husband, Patrick.Photo:DOC NYC

DOC NYC

The heartbreaking toll of dementia is explored in a new documentary,Facing the Wind, which takes an intimate look at how Lewy Body Dementia impacts not only those with the disease, but also the people who love them.

The film centers around two women — Linda Szypula and Carla Preyer —  whose husbands Jim and Patrick, respectively, have the progressive disease. The two women meet in a support group and forge a friendship as they deal with the mental and emotional task of caregiving for someone with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD)

Jim and Linda Szypula.DOC NYC

“It was not depression that killed Robin,”Williams told PEOPLE. “Depression was one of let’s call it 50 symptoms, and it was a small one.”

InFacing the Wind, Linda and Carla lean on each other as their husbands’ symptoms get progressively worse; Carla and Patrick renew their vows at home amid Patrick’s increased agitation, which causes them to be largely housebound. Meanwhile, Linda and Jim’s road trip is cut short as he struggles with intense fear of being away from home.

At one point, Linda and Carla join other caregivers from their support group on a rare getaway.

In this exclusive clip, Carla explains that “Patrick’s awake time is shrinking,” saying that her husband’s disease is “progressing.”

“Every day there’s new grief,” shares another member of their support group — which prompts Linda to break down as she shares her struggle as a caretaker.

“It’s just hitting me that I’m going back to that tomorrow. I’m going back to the reality, and what if I’m not strong enough to do it,” she says. “I’m suffocating … he would be there for me and would never be like this. And the thought of going home — this is how I feel when I walk in my house. I feel like I can’t even breathe.”

“Something my mom always said: ‘This too shall pass,’ ” Carla says, before embracing Linda.

Facing the Windwill premiere at DOC NYC — the largest documentary film festival in the U.S. — on Nov. 20. Tickets to attend the in-person event, or to streamFacing the Windonline (from Nov. 21 until Dec. 1) are availablehere.

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source: people.com