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Death-focused documentary to show at UK cinemas

Dead Good, the first full length feature by director Rehana Rose, will be released in cinemas on 10 May and follow the lives of three groups of people as they deal with the death of a loved one.

Described as “an intimate portrait of those dealing with death in modern Britain”, the document the process from death through to the funeral ceremony itself.

The film has been supported by some luminaries from the acting world including Dame Emma Thompson who was so affected by the film that she recorded a prologue to the trailer urging people to see it.

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She said: “This is an unbelievably timely and important film. It is beautifully crafted, so comforting as well as moving and gives the wisdom forth so simply and compellingly. Everyone should see this.”

The film’s director Rose, who between 2012 and 2015 lost three people very close to her, created the film when she “realised how little we know about our rights and choices around death, mourning and celebrating life”.  

Rose’s first experience of filmmaking was on a documentary about punk rockers in the 80s called Rough Cut and Ready Dubbed which went on to win the Grierson award. After a successful career in corporate live events directing large format video and animation, 15 years ago she returned to her interest in filmmaking and made several independent short films

She said: In short succession, I was involved with three very different funerals and realised how little we know about our rights and choices around death, mourning and celebrating the life of a loved one. One of those funerals of a dear young friend of mine, was supported by Cara and her team, which was radically different from the other two and which I experienced as much more positive. All of my varied experiences and the questions they raised for me were the motivation for this documentary.

“This film is timely because the funeral ‘industry’ is on the brink of disruptive change. Many baby boomers are dealing with the deaths of their parents and within their peer groups. Younger generations are becoming more questioning, seeking alternative ways of being and doing and rejecting corporate solutions. Funeral poverty is a growing concern, and scaremongering about funeral plans and soaring funeral costs continue to make headlines.”

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