A Necessary Death

Gilbert Toma (G.J. Echternkamp) is a film student looking to make a documentary on a suicidal person. It's an indie with indie budget. So we have to account for that. Even with that in mind, this is still a slow moving film. The only hope is to pretend that this is real. At least that would allow for some tension to seep thru.

But it's obvious that it's not. I've seen enough of these faux-docs. It rambles on in that kind of videotape footages. The people slowly and methodically do their documentary and talk about their documentary. It's not that compelling. The last 30 minutes has some interesting developments. I don't recommend this movie, but if you watch it, you might as well stay until the end.

Saw this movie in Calagary and it just made me mad that you can have all the talent in the world but if you have no money it's almost impossible to get your work seen. Take "A Necessary Death" for example. These guys have worked on this movie for three years (probably for very little or no money) and have created something that they can confidently show to anyone, while other movies are made for millions and are an embarrassment! I believe they are showing it at AFI next month so I am hoping something happens for them as I will definitely be taking my friends to see it if it ever gets released. These are the type of movies that inspire young film makers to try harder because it proves that if you have what it takes you can create wonderful work with very little resources. And to think I wasn't even meant to see this movie during the festival. I just liked the name!!!

I attended the World Premiere of "A Necessary Death" at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. This is a shocking and controversial feature from director Daniel Stamm.

To say that "A Necessary Death" defies description is an understatement. In fact, it's so unique that to say much more would spoil it. In "A Necessary Death," we follow a young filmmaker as he shoots a documentary about suicide. The kicker is that he actively solicits a subject who has already made plans to off himself and is willing to do it on camera.

For me, it's intensely personal. I lost a close friend to suicide about nine months ago and haven't really struggled with it as much as I'd expected to. I think I understand why he did what he did and the notion that someone taking their own life might be "justified" is something that is taboo in this society. This film breaks that taboo, and, in so doing, sheds some light on an issue which is so foreign to most people that they look at me with a mixture of disgust and wonder when I bring it up.

Needless to say, the film addresses issues of ethics, legality, and responsibility for the actions of others. The viewer's comfort level is tested as the film pushes the envelope of what's acceptable in cinema. The question is posed, "If it isn't disturbing, is it art?" "A Necessary Death" surely disturbs.

A Necessary Death had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. It's hard to know what to think of a feature film that appears to be intentionally passing itself off to audiences as a documentary about the making of a student film on about a person planning to commit suicide. Much of the audience - myself included - was confused and thought that the film was an actual documentary. As a documentary, the project would be incredibly startling and disturbing.

As a feature film, the project is creative, but also a bit of gimmicky and somewhat emotional manipulative, because the audience feels like they are being shown something real which is really a complete work of fiction. If the film opens a wider debate about the ethics of suicide and, in this case, the ethics of the euthanasia, that may be positive, but its more likely to lead to a debate about the ethics of film making. Realistically, the film's approach so off-putting and confusing that it is unlikely to get much theatrical distribution. Also, the last third of the film and especially the ending seems a bit overly melodramatic. It feels like the writer/director made the film in an effort to get himself noticed in film circles by doing something creative and out-of-the-box.

Well, he has done that, but I'm not sure if the effort to confuse the line between fact and fiction is a healthy one or not. The film is entertaining, but also a bit disturbing in a way that doesn't necessarily seem particularly constructive. It is asking questions about the ethics of documentary film making, but it is unclear to this observer if they are questions that are particular important ones to ask or to answer.

I don't want to say much because I really want people to watch it for themselves first. I just have to say I thought this was a fantastic piece of work and whilst a lot of people may say that this is bad taste, I think it's very honest and I respect that.

I'm not easily stunned or speechless but this film is an exception and addresses some very important topics that really need to be discussed more openly in this world. Maybe then, it would be understood much more. I would advise anyone wanting to watch this to help them deal with the topic surrounding this film, that it may not perhaps be ideal for some but may be for others. Everyone comes away with a different opinion .