Slovak Republic 2018, 52/84 min, HDA Hailstone Production
by Tomas Krupa
The Good Death
Janette is terminally ill and wants to die in a dignified way. Muscular dystrophy, the illness that Janette suffers from, has affected her family for generations. Janette's mother was wheelchair bound for decades, a prisoner in her own body. Janette refuses to wait for death in unbearable pain and opts for physician-assisted suicide. Before leaving on her last journey she has to explain her intention to her family members and close friends.Janette must plan her journey to Switzerland before her rapidly advancing disease makes it impossible.
Her son Simon has also inherited this illness and, therefore, has much more sympathy for her decision than his sister Bridget. If no cure for this illness is found, he will face the same decision process as his mother. Both children try to convince Janette to postpone her death. Do we own our life or does it own us?
The film uses feature film techniques, and engaging characters and their stories interwoven with Janette’s testament.
Jihlava (Premiere), One World Prague (Best Film), EFA (nom.), Slovak Film&TV Academy (nom.), Latvian Inconvenient Films (Panorama), Montgomery (Best Doc), DocsMX, Minsk IFF, Kassel, Strasbourg, Virginia US (Best Doc & Grand Jury Award), L'Europe autour de l'Europe (nom. Prix Présent), Docudays UA, Slovak National Film (Best Doc), Los Angeles Theatrical Release Competition & Awards (Award)