Into That Good Night
Henry, Ramatu and Mark are terminally ill and struggling to make sense of their lives. They come together for eight weeks for a photography project run by a London hospice.
This raw and emotionally powerful film follows these three and others as they create portraits in an attempt to express who they are. Prompted by the photography, they soon begin to share their fears about illness and mortality. This is an intense and confronting process for each of them.
As emotions range between anger, fear, and stoic acceptance it is hard not to wonder how we would deal with this situation ourselves.
Mixing photographic portraits and observational footage from their sessions together with interviews about their lives undertaken as part of the project, the film provides a rare and poignant insight into what it is like to live with the knowledge that you might soon die.
RUNTIME:
24 Minutes
PRODUCER:
Chris Eley
DIRECTOR:
Chris Eley
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
Brian Woods
RELEASED:
2009
Awards
Winner – Ability Media International – Best Documentary Award - in 2009
Reviews
"An astonishing film"
The Guardian
"Gut wrenchingly sad but a valuable opportunity to gain a bit of perspective."
Sharon Lougher, Metro
"Sombre but beautifully observed...Eley’s brief but engaging film refuses to shy away from the anger and fear implicit in clinging impotently to life...recommended"
Phil Harrison, Time Out
"Raw and profoundly emotional debut documentary"
Radio Times