The Tomorrows Children Face When a Parent Dies

In a direct, yet gentle, manner, this video is courageous enough to deal with one of life's hardest burdens for a child--the death of a parent. Beginning with interviews with youngsters in an Oregon-based grieving center--set up specifically for children, teens and families--the program offers interviews with the bereaved, who talk about their lives during their parent's illness (if the death wasn't sudden), the difficulties of saying good-bye, dealing with the subsequent feelings of loss, and where they stand emotionally today. Additional insights are offered by the grief facilitators at the center, who interact with the children and help families with the grieving process, and a rabbi and a priest address spiritual issues and the importance of ritual. From teens talking about returning to school after the loss of a parent to spouses describing the new interactions and balances in a family which has suffered a loss, this well-executed production is full of articulate people and tender hearts. A much needed discussion that will serve well in a public library, counseling center, or spiritual institution. Aud: P. (E. Druda)