Intro: Documentaries about Death
The thought of death can be a frightening prospect. It’s something that we all have to go through, and it’s hard to know what to expect. That said, it doesn’t have to be as scary as you might think. In fact, there are some documentaries about death that will make you stop and think about your life.
Death is inevitable, but understanding what it means for us can be helpful and empowering. These are some documentaries about death that will make you re-evaluate your life -- take a look!
1. Being Mortal - Documentaries about Death
How would you discuss death with a dying loved one? Dr. Gawande explores the topic of death and mortality in this Emmy-nominated documentary.
"Aging and dying –you can't fix those," says Dr. Gawande, who is also interviewed in the film. The ultimate goal after all, is not a good death but to have had lived well until then- no matter what our age may be at that time."
2. A Certain Kind Of Death - Documentaries on Death
Unblinking and unsettling, this documentary lays bare a mysterious process that happens all around us - what happens to people who die with no next of kin.
The film follows the story from when their body was discovered until they are finally disposed of, but it doesn't do so for shock value. You learn a little about each person before and after death in short segments which go beyond simple exposition: you learn what they were like while alive as well as how their lives will end up in the end; less is more here.
3. The Good Death - Death Documentary
Janette is terminally ill and wants to die in a dignified way. Muscular dystrophy, the illness she suffers from, has affected her family for generations.
Janette's mother was wheelchair bound for decades-a prisoner in her own body. The pain that Janette will feel before death is unbearable: she opts for physician-assisted suicide.
She must explain this decision to those close to her family members as well as friends before leaving on her last journey.
4. The Suicide Tourist: Our Right To Die Together - Documentaries about Death
Craig Ewert is a man who has motor-neurone disease and he doesn't want to live out the rest of his days in pain. Should George and Betty Coumbias be allowed to die together at a time of their choosing? Oscar winning director John Zaritsky had exclusive access to Dignitas for one year, turning The Suicide Tourist into something unimaginable.
5. Death Row: Indiana State Prison - Documentaries on Death
In this two-part series, veteran presenter Sir Trevor McDonald gets access to one of the world's most notorious prisons. He spends two weeks in Indiana State Maximum Security Prison and hears from inmates who know what it is like living with death row.
Conclusions: Documentaries about Death
In a world where death is so often glossed over and ignored, it can be hard to wrap our minds around the concept. But with these documentaries, you will start to get a sense of the true meaning of death, how it relates to your own life, and the history of how people have dealt with the idea of death.
Images credits: Unsplash.com