Seven Songs for a Long Life

It's hard to imagine a less depressing hospice documentary than Seven Songs for a Long Life, which is inspired by director Amy Hardie's experience working at the Strathcarron Hospice in rural Scotland. Jim, an administrator who sings while he works, is but one of the facility's musically talented staff who help inspire patients. Nicola, a middle-aged mother, survived her first experience with breast cancer, but she didn't expect a recurrence, let alone a terminal diagnosis. She spends as much time with her family as she can, but pain becomes more and more of a problem. Iain, a former motorcycle racer, has MS. Although he stays as active as possible, his wife has become their son's primary caretaker. Julie, a young mother, has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Her doctors recommended chemotherapy, but stopped the treatment when they found it wasn't working. She's been keeping a memory box for her daughter filled with cards to open on future birthdays. Tosh, an elderly gentleman with prostate cancer, likes to sing standards. He dresses up each day in a dapper suit, and tells his doctor that he doesn't want to know how much time he has left, but would rather take each day as it comes. Dorene, who also likes to sing, has myeloma or cancer of the bone marrow. A stem cell transplant has bought her time, giving her five more years. And Alicia, a retired midwife, feels she has had a "gorgeous life," but wishes her husband was still by her side. By the end of the documentary, three patients have died, but Hardie makes a strong case that modern medicine combined with music extended their lives. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)