Controversial. Confronting. Comforting. All words for a subject people don't want to think about, much less talk about. And yet we must - for we will all die sometime, somehow, somewhere.
The award winning documentary, Fade to Black, delivers the story of Peter Short, CEO of Shell Express Service Stations in Australia who was terminally ill with incurable esophageal cancer. After talking himself out of a violent suicide, Peter instead decides to take matters into his own hands by trying to source the lethal and illegal drug Nembutal.
He also embarked on a campaign to legalise voluntary assisted dying in Australia. He wanted everyone to have control of their own sometime, somehow, somewhere.
The movie also provides a history and background to the issue of assisted dying in Australia. It features interviews with key players in the Australian debate, including Dr Rodney Syme, Andrew Denton and Dr Philip Nitschke, as well as politicians for change, Dr Richard Di Natale and Fiona Patten.
MidNorth Coast DWDnsw Convenor Annie Quadroy said it is a real coup to have Fade to Black screening in Port Macquarie.
“The film was originally being released only in capital cities. We are very pleased the distributors agreed to our inclusion,” she said.
According to the filmmaker of ‘Fade to Black’, Jeremy Ervine, the purpose of the documentary was to open up a conversation about dying and allow people to see the arguments for and against assisted dying legislation. Jeremy shot over a hundred hours of footage and interviewed dozens of people for this movie. ‘Fade to Black’ is the most successful crowdfunded Australian documentary, raising over $100,000. This sends a strong message to politicians that Australians care passionately about choice at end of life.
Fade to Black will be screening at Majestic Cinemas, Wednesday, August 23 at 2pm. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased before August 13 via https://tickets.demand.film/event/1978
