Genre
Synopsis
After a late-stage ovarian cancer diagnosis, 37-year-old Sabrina shares her dying wish with her sister and five close friends: “When I die, I want you to take care of my body in my home, hold my funeral in the yard, and I want a green burial on nearby land.” While fulfilling Sabrina’s wishes, these women learn a powerful new way of processing grief. It also sparks one of them to make natural burials accessible to her community.
WHEN I DIE asks, what is sacrificed when we outsource the departure of our loved ones to industrialized systems, and what can be gained from re-claiming these community-based life skills?
The women who cared for Sabrina gather to re-tell this intimate story of learning, preparing and then executing their enormous task. Impressionistic re-created scenes serve as potent memories, while the present-day journey to establish a green cemetery is observational.
Bio
Susannah Heath-Eves is a documentary filmmaker based in Ottawa, Canada. Her debut feature documentary JUGAAD is on NETFLIX and was acquired by the CBC Documentary Channel. Her current work focuses on the intersection between art, nature and healing, and strives to build bridges in society while creating a healthier, more equitable world.
Susannah was a production supervisor and co-editor at EYESTEELFILM in Montreal (THE FRUIT HUNTERS, BLUE WATER PROJECT) for three years, after working as a reporter and current affairs associate producer for CTV and CBC Radio and Television. Susannah has a Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism and a BA in English Literature, both from Carleton University.
Credits
Story Editor - Omar Majeed
Composer - Shane Mendonsa
