View From the Inside: Just Ordinary Days…Personal Reflections on Living and Dying

In Thornton Wilder's play Our Town, the character of Emily, who dies during childbirth, is granted a heavenly wish to revisit any day of her life, but encouraged to choose an ordinary day, so that she might see the richness and joy in the seemingly common events of daily living. In filmmaker Sandra Martin's absorbing documentary, three terminally ill patients--Clara, Fred, and Cindy--share their views on life, death and the pleasure they find in “ordinary days.” Divided into four parts, the first and second sections focus on end-of-life issues and societal attitudes towards death, exploring how families cope with the stages of fear, denial, and acceptance that accompany a terminal diagnosis. Parts three and four offer practical suggestions for ways friends and caregivers can express their own feelings, and provide support and comfort, while also looking at services offered by hospice and home health organizations. Addressing the subject of death in a realistic and frank manner that's also sensitive, this program would be especially instructive for medical professionals and caregivers, and inspirational to the terminally ill and their families. Highly recommended. [Note: the program is also available in a 58-minute version for $250 w/PPR.] Aud: C, P. (L. Stevens)