Review of Dying at Grace (2003) by Shane L — 28 Jun 2017

Possibly the only professional film to show natural death occurring from start to finish, "Dying at Grace" is a revelation. It suffers from no artifice and shows practically no sign of creative interference. No, director Alan King knew well enough to stay out of the way of his own film. Through smart and seamless editing, the stories unfolding here silently give rise to a simple, yet compelling narrative; sooner or later, we all die. This documentary can be tough to watch at points; not only is it thematically stark and unflinching, but we actually get to see death. Yes, we watch several people transition from vital, intelligent individuals into physical vestiges, but more literally, the very last breaths of two people are documented up-close. And oddly, it isn't sad. It isn't terribly depressing. It's oddly natural. In a world built on a fear-based image of death, we forget that it's all an inevitable part of life. It doesn't jump out at you like a monster, and it doesn't descend upon you with darkness and pain. Though the diseases from which these people suffer prove insidious, their actual deaths are peaceful and merciful. Alan King was courageous in his efforts here, and they've paid off. Nothing like this had been done before, and nothing like it has been done since.

The content of this film required immense capability and sensibility on the part of the director, and I believe anyone who sees the film start-to-finish will agree: Alan King did it right the first time. It's a grounding, muted, and honest work that does exactly what it's meant to do: let death speak for itself.