Movies and Videos
There are many great resources out there, from TED talks, to YouTube. If there’s something you’d like to share, be sure to let us know at info@endoflifechoicesca.org
Jack Has a Plan
The Story
When Jack Tuller, a man with a terminal brain tumor for 25 years, decides to end his life, his family and friends struggle to accept his decision. Jack’s best friend documents his three-year quest to die a happy man, culminating in a permanent going-away party.
About the Film
JACK HAS A PLAN is a 73-minute feature documentary directed by Bradley Berman. It was completed in April 2022.
Last Flight Home
Check out the exclusive first trailer for Ondi Timoner’s “Last Flight Home” (MTV Documentary Films) as mentioned in our blog. This is definitely a “must watch” movie!
Now streaming on Paramount+.
Paddleton
Actors Ray Romano (Andy) and Mark Duplass (Michael), depict two middle-aged men who struggle with society and relationships in general, and even more so when one of them is diagnosed with a terminal illness and chooses to access California’s End of Life Option Act and medical aid in dying.
Read our review of this movie on the blog.
When My Time Comes
Spurred on by the death of her husband, Diane Rehm crosses the country to take an in-depth look at medical aid in dying. This balanced documentary gives voice to people on all sides of the issue, presents the facts and explores the myths surrounding medical aid in dying, now allowed in California and 10 other U.S. jurisdictions. See the movie at whenmytimecomesmovie.com
Living and Dying: A Love Story
sharewisdom.com
Living and Dying: A Love Story is an intimate family film by Sher and Rob Safran, documenting the last week of Sher’s parents’ life. Retired Kaiser Permanente surgeon, and former medical missionaries, Charlie and Francie, now in their late 80s and residing in a continuing care retirement community, have both been diagnosed with six months or fewer to live. Longtime supporters of the right-to-die movement, Charlie and Francie have chosen to use the State of Oregon’s Death with Dignity option — together.
Runtime: 00:44.54
Still Alice
A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. 2014
Runtime: 01:41:00
To learn more about this subject, be sure to watch Lisa Genova’s TED talk about preventing Alzheimer’s.
Your Body Is Not Going To Do What You Want It To Do – PBS interview with BJ Miller
PBS: BRIEF BUT SPECTACULAR – Dr. BJ Miller does not work to heal patients, but to ensure quality of life amid advanced or serious illness. Sometimes people suggest his job is depressing, but Miller doesn’t see it that way. When people are dying it changes how they live, he says. Miller gives his Brief but Spectacular take on dying and living.
Runtime: 00:03:22
Blackbird
Lily (Susan Sarandon) and Paul (Sam Neill) summon their loved ones to their beach house for one final gathering after Lily decides to end her long battle with ALS with Medical Aid in Dying. The couple is planning a loving weekend complete with holiday traditions, but the mood becomes strained when unresolved issues surface. Joining the collective farewell are Lily’s son in law, her lifelong friend, daughter’s partner and grandson.
Blackbird is available to stream on Prime Video, Redbox, Vudu Movie & TV Store, VUDU or Apple TV on your Roku device.
How to Die in Oregon
Rent or buy on iTunes | Netflix | documentary | Hulu Plus
In How to Die in Oregon, filmmaker Peter Richardson gently enters the lives of the terminally ill as they consider whether – and when – to end their lives by lethal overdose. Richardson examines both sides of this complex, emotionally charged issue. What emerges is a life-affirming, staggeringly powerful portrait of what it means to die with dignity.
Speaking of Dying
Informative and yet intimate, Speaking of Dying captures the importance of individuals and groups speaking openly about all aspects of the dying process. Viewing this film will inspire and encourage you to talk to your friends, family, health care agents and medical providers about your own end of life planning, choices and wishes.
Compassion & Choices New York: Planning for the Care You Want and Deserve
Published on Jan 25, 2018
Runtime: 01:03:37
Dying Wish
Dying Wish is a documentary about hospice patient, Dr. Michael Miller, an eighty-year old, retired surgeon with end-stage cancer who chooses to stop eating and drinking in order not to prolong his dying process, to ease his suffering and to die with grace.
more at dyingwishmedia.com
Rosemary Bowen’s Fast
At age 94, Rosemary Bowen hastened her death by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) in 2018. For twenty years, Rosemary Bowen had told her family that she would hasten her death when she was no longer able to live independently. Several months after suffering a back injury, she decided that she was ready to die. Read our blog here.
Rosemary asked her daughter to make this video to show others that VSED could be a sensible end-of-life option.
This video was graciously upoaded to Youtube by End of Life Choices New York. You may watch it here.
Extremis
2016 Oscar-Winning Documentary about Palliative Care in ICU, by Dan Krauss
Runtime: 00:24:45
End Game
2018 Documentary about Palliative Care, by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman
Runtime: 00:06:61
Dying with Dignity:
Respecting Choices
with End-of-life Care
Published on Nov 14, 2011
Death is not something any of us like to think about, much less talk about with our loved ones.
Runtime: 00:06:61
Stephen Jenkinson:
A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul
In a wide-ranging and moving talk, spiritual activist and author Stephen Jenkinson advocates for dying well as every person’s right, and shares what he has learned from two decades of working with dying people and their families. Among many eye-opening revelations he points out the wisdom of the English language, whose verb “to die” cannot be used in the passive voice; unlike the death-phobic culture in which we live, it acknowledges that dying is what you do, not what happens to you.
Runtime: 01:16:51
“Thank you for everything these past few weeks. From your wise and informed counsel to your emotional support - I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for my family.” B.Y.
