'Los' by Tom Naegels
Tom Naegels
Antwerp journalist Tom’s grandfather, Bob, has cancer and would like to receive euthanasia. However, he does not meet the criteria of hopeless and unbearable suffering set by Belgian law. Although Tom and his mother advocate for Bob’s right to self-determination, this has little effect. The novel provides a critical reflection of the criteria outlined in Belgian euthanasia law.
'Schlemm' by Nicola Bardola
Nicola Bardola
The elderly spouses Paul and Franca Salamun have decided to die together with the help of an assisted dying organisation. Paul suffers from bladder cancer, Franca is tired of living and does not want to stay behind without her husband. Although their son Luca can understand the decision, it is difficult for him to find a way to emotionally process her death.
'Winter in Gloster Huis' by Vonne van der Meer
Vonne van der Meer
In this novel set in 2024, the ‘Done with Life Act’ is law in the Netherlands, permitting assisted suicide for those who consider their lives complete. At the same time, two brothers receive a huge inheritance. One starts a farewell hotel, which facilitates a self-chosen death; the other starts an extended-stay hotel, where people are surrounded by care and attention until their natural passing.
'Bhangaar | Obsolete' by Sumira Roy
Sumira Roy (Director)
This quiet documentary displays the daily lives and material reality of octogenarian couple Narayan and Iravati Lavate who rose to prominence in 2018 for their plea to die by state-sanctioned euthanasia despite being physically and mentally healthy. The film humanizes Narayan and Iravati, showing the legal, societal and ethical resistance to their desire to “die with dignity.”
'Exit' by Benjamin Kempf
Benjamin Kempf (director) and Jann Preuss (writer)
Erika who suffers from cancer and her healthy husband Ruedi wish to die together by assisted suicide. When the lethal drug is ready, Ruedi is overcome with doubt, and the two argue. Ruedi ultimately drinks the deadly substance as well and lies down in bed with his wife. This short film, the first to explore double suicide in organised assisted suicide in Switzerland, is highly ambivalent.
'Gina' by Wendell Cooke and Jeremy Macey
Wendell Cooke (dir.), Jeremy Macey (dir.)
A three-minute documentary film about Gina, a New Zealand woman living with a rare genetic condition that affects her ears, eyes and larynx. Gina’s case has been mentioned in the New Zealand and Queensland parliaments and the film gained over 100,000 views in the years before assisted dying was legalised in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
'GOTT. Ein Theaterstück' by Ferdinand von Schirach
Ferdinand von Schirach
After the death of his wife, 78-year-old Richard Gärtner wants to end his life by assisted suicide, although he is in perfect health. In the form of a meeting of the German Ethics Council, the play questions whether it is ethically justifiable for a doctor to help a healthy person take their own life and lets the audience vote on it.