Le Choix de Jean
Jean's Choice
This film chronicles the last few months in the life of 58 year old Jean Aebischer. We capture his daily existence as a terminal cancer suffereer, right up to his very last day. A last day he chose of his own accord, by resorting to assisted suicide. Jean Aebischer lives in Switzerland, near Fribourg. His cancer has metastasized in his brain, creating tiny time bombs that impair his vital functions in just a few weeks’ time. And while Jean still feels no symtoms of the desease, his doctors give him only a few more months to live. Jean Aebischer isn’t as afraid of death itself, as he is of the suffering and physical decay that will leave his loved ones with agonizing memories of his final days. Swiss law permits assisted suicide. A right-to-die society called Exit helps terminal patients to end their lives by having a volunteer supply them with a deadly solution. Beforehand the Exit team carefully examines the applicant’s medical file and assures he meets the society’s conditions, which require the patient to administer the drug himself. Jean Aebischer died on january 6th 2004. Our film is a reflection on assisted suicide as well as a close-up look at illness, death and mourning. Why do people resort to assisted suicide? How does one chose exactly when to die ? Does controlling the moment when one dies ease the anxiety over death? How can one prepare for death? How can loved ones be prepared?
France - 2004 - 1 h 03 mn - DV Cam - Colour
Director
Stéphanie Malphettes, Stephan Villeneuve
Writer
Stéphanie Malphettes, Stephan Villeneuve
Camera
Stephan Villeneuve
Editing
Nathalie Mettais-Cartier
|
Production
Capa Presse TV,
80, rue de la Croix-Nivert,
75015 Paris, France
Tél : +33 (0)1 4045 4700
Fax : +33 (0)1 4045 4710
E-mail : nroy@capatv.com
with the participation of
France 2
|
Sales
Capa Presse TV,
80, rue de la Croix-Nivert,
75015 Paris, France
Tél : +33 (0)1 4045 4706
Fax : +33 (0)1 4045 4710 |
|
