Dying at Grace (2003)

Dying at Grace (2003). Dying at Grace: Directed by Allan King. With Phyllis Bobbitt, Joyce Bone, Norman Collins, Lloyd Greenway. Director Allan King documents the final months of five terminally ill cancer patients at the Toronto Grace Health Centre.

“This is the most powerful documentary I have ever seen. To anyone thinking that a deathbed scene is a peaceful serene experience surrounded by loved ones, think again having seen this.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt is haunting, sad and empowering to watch five people (having agreed with the film maker, Allan King, to have their last moments captured for posterity so that others might be enlightened to the death experience)die over the the time frame of a few weeks.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSome of the scenes are almost unwatchable, the terrible sounds of the last few hours of breathing, the sadness (for the viewer) of most of these courageous participants dying alone apart from the camera and sound technicians.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe most beautiful death scene was a gay man, his partner and parents all loving him to u0026quot;the other side.u0026quot; He had been resigned to death, wanted it, and yet his body struggled to stay alive. I am still haunted by it, still trying to formulate thoughts on how these deaths in the film have affected me as these people were so real and vibrant and even funny.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBrilliant, brave film-making from Allan King whose previous documentaries I have also seen and recommend. 10 out of 10. Some films you see and are never the same again. All films should be like this.”