The Two Lives of Sara, Roche’s brand film on Multiple Sclerosis, tells the story of Sara’s life in two parallel realities – one where she gets a new treatment for MS, and another where she doesn’t.

In Finland as in the most Western countries, MS disease patients usually get their treatment according to Current Care Guidelines. These guidelines don’t often include the newest treatments and they are drafted with strict budget. This means that especially in some forms of MS disease the symptoms are only mildly delayed.

The film gives information to patients, that there are alternatives for the treatment and they can request for better options.

The film follows two lives of Sara on split-screen - detailing the way two alternate realities split and differ after her MS diagnosis. The big idea behind casting Sara, was that the role would be portrayed by two actresses – enabling each performer to focus 100% on one storyline only. This could be only achieved by casting a pair of twins.

Production-wise, this decision helped us also to achieve all boarded 44 shots within two long shooting days. Keeping in mind that 44 shots become 88 shots when shot split-screen style.

We cast Sara in 5 countries: England (15 pairs), Sweden (6 pairs), Hungary (2 pairs), Serbia (1 pair) and Czech Republic (1 pair). The director flew in to test shoot the most potential candidates in London and Belgrade.

All together the cast consisted of 50 background artists, 40 dancers, 8 featured roles - and two Saras portraying one.