‘A Friend in Death’ set to premiere on ABC this Sunday 15 May
Screenwest is pleased to announce that half-hour documentary, A Friend in Death, is set to make its television premiere on ABC’s Compass program this Sunday, 15 May at 7.30pm.
A Friend in Death tells the story of the Sacred Heart Biography Service at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, which offers people in palliative care the opportunity to work with a trained biography volunteer to tell their life story. The documentary follows two of the Service’s biographers, long-term volunteer Kerry Little and newly recruited Kris McIntyre as they record the biographies of their terminally-ill clients, opening an unexpected pathway of healing and acceptance through the telling of their wonderful life stories.
Kerry believes the process of hearing and telling someone’s life story is a journey of healing that gives meaning to the lives of her terminally ill clients, while Kris’s own close call with cancer has sparked curiosity about how others face their death.
A Friend in Death is directed, written and edited by Joshua Lee (The Fathering Project) and produced by Alice Wolfe of WA production company, Periscope Pictures, with Josh inspired to make the documentary after a close friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
https://vimeo.com/693406221
“What stood out to me with the Sacred Heart Biography Service program was its ability to use story to empower: to enable the patients to be defined by the actions of their lives, rather than their illness. In doing so, they can find meaning and leave a tangible legacy. As a filmmaker I know the power of story to enrich people’s experience and this became evident in the colourful characters we followed throughout the film.” said Joshua Lee, Director.
“A Friend in Death explores a unique and intimate end of life relationship between the dying and a volunteer biographer. It’s both moving and revealing and delves into core Compass territory of what is the meaning and legacy of a life.” said Kim Akhurst, ABC Compass Series Producer.
Josh and Alice’s film explores an important and emotionally impactful subject matter with poignancy, showing us a glimpse of how the palliative care experience in Australia can be transformed for the better. I look forward to seeing A Friend in Death resonate with the Compass audience.” said Paul Williams, Screenwest Documentary Manager.
A Friend in Death will screen on ABC TV Plus at 7.30pm on Sunday, 15 May and again on the 22 & 29 May. It will also be available on ABC iview.
A Friend in Death is a Periscope Pictures and Josh Lee production for the ABC with principal production investment from Screenwest and Lotterywest. Developed with the assistance of Screen Australia.