‘Mar adentro’ by Alejandro Amenábar

Following a spinal injury, sustained from a misjudged dive into shallow water, Ramón Sampedro (played by Javier Bardem in the film) is left in a tetraplegic state. Having lived entirely dependent on his family for almost 30 years, Ramón decides that he has had enough of being trapped in his body and of relying on others for the most basic of tasks and so enlists the help of an assisted dying lobby group to raise awareness of his situation. Ramón’s case goes to court and is thrown out, without so much as the opportunity for him to address the judge. While the court case generated significant media attention – much of it supportive – it became clear that it would take much longer for the legal framework to evolve and, as such, Ramón enlists the help of a number of trusted friends to help him end his life. In a video recording of his (assisted) suicide, Ramón makes clear that this is his wish and that those who have helped him cannot – and should not – be prosecuted, as each person’s role has been so meticulously choreographed so as no individual action is illegal in itself. 

Ramón Sampedro’s story was fundamental in shaping public discourse around assisted dying in Spain. Understanding assisted dying as a component of the fundamental right not to suffer, Sampedro established himself as an advocate for all those who wished to exercise autonomy over the moment of their death. Although it was not until 2021 that euthanasia was introduced in Spain, there was a marked shift in public opinion on the topic following the media attention that Sampedro’s case attracted. These public calls for a change in the law grew ever louder in the years following Sampedro’s death. The film, Mar adentro, Sampedro’s two published texts and his life story continue to be referenced in public discourse around assisted suicide and euthanasia in Spain and beyond, and featured consistently in the debates that surrounded the introduction of the 2021 euthanasia law in the country.