Educational Media Reviews Online

Although the topic of this film is euthanasia, it is equally instructive as a work about another culture. The film’s subject is EXIT ADMD, an organization that is one of approximately 40 members of the The World Federation of Right to Die Societies. EXIT ADMD is located in the French speaking part of Switzerland, and in telling this organization’s story, the film indirectly puts the U.S. and Swiss culture, and their treatment of death and dying in stark contrast.

There are a large number of films dealing with the topic of death and dying, but this one is unique in its approach; it lets the camera tell the story. In the process of watching and listening to an EXIT board meeting and annual convention, and conversations by EXIT members and patients, all of the essential information about criteria and process of “self-deliverance” are revealed. There is however, no conversation about the topic directed at the viewer, no overdubbing, no background music, no introduction or explanations given. I was left with a lot of questions about the motivations of the “escorts” from EXIT, and the histories of the lives of the patients and volunteers, how the legislation that supports the right to die was developed, etc. But this is a case of “less is more.” Because there were no explanations or intellectual considerations to distract me, the film made a strong emotional connection. As the conversations are all in French, I had to rely on the English subtitles, and this made my experience even more minimalist and powerful.

The film begins with an interview between an EXIT escort and a woman who is ill and planning her own “self deliverance.” We return to her at the end of the film and witness the final, very structured conversation she has with her escort, see her drink the elixir that ends her life, and watch as the escort follows the protocol for contacting the police. The final frames are a long distance view of the gurney with the woman’s body being wheeled out of her apartment building into an ambulance that we see slowly driving away. Watching someone going from awake and alert to death, instead of slipping away in a comatose state was difficult to watch.

Although I recommend this movie because of its technical quality, and the important and interesting information it gives about the organization, and how another culture handles death, it is very frank in its approach. I think it is appropriate for older high school students and beyond. However it may be disturbing to some viewers and classes should probably be prepared prior to watching it. It is also essential that it be previewed by anyone showing it to a group. This film has received many awards and has had a number of high profile reviews. Additional information about the film and EXIT ADMD is easily accessible via the web.

Awards:

• Best Documentary, 2006 Swiss Cinema Awards
• Best Documentary, 2005 Namur International Film Festival