John Zaritsky’s film The Suicide Tourist, retitled Right to Die? for its broadcast this week on British television, “chronicles the stories of two people who visit the Dignitas organization in Zurich, which organizes assisted suicides in Switzerland, where the practice is legal.” The death of one of the subjects is shown on camera.
Tag: 12.10.08
Why Documentary Subject Wanted The World To See Him Die
Mary Ewert, the widow of the man whose assisted suicide was shown in the controversial documentary The Suicide Tourist (or Right to Die?) writes that her husband “wanted to remove a veil so that people could see how comfortably someone could die who – without this option of assisted suicide – maybe would have had a very painful death.”
Yes, But Is It Art? Ch. 487 – Early Scientific Photography
“Should we consider “Brought to Light: Photography and the Invisible, 1840-1900″ an art exhibition just because the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has organized it? It surveys photography’s extension of human visual capacities, primarily in the hands of scientists, and it presents us with some pictorially striking images. But artistic intent figured in few, if any, of them.”
What Rhymes With Blagojevich?
The stunning arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges has sent Chicago’s Second City theatre troupe scrambling for new material. “Blagojevich has now given Second City a much more personal darker side on which to build its themes. And comedy thrives on personality.” But for a company that thrives on topical humor, there just hasn’t been much lead time to develop the Blagojevich storyline…
Did Mamet Abandon His Own Play?
“Critics didn’t have much use for the re vival of David Mamet’s “American Buffalo,” which closed Nov. 23 after just a week of performances. But they weren’t alone in their indiffer ence. To hear backstage sources tell it, Mamet himself could barely be bothered with the play, which is generally considered one of his best. He never attended a rehearsal, didn’t see a performance and refused to do any press for it.”
Stratford Adds A NY Emissary
“The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is appointing Elizabeth Bradley as its senior artistic associate.” The position is unpaid, and Bradley will essentially serve as Stratford’s ambassador to New York. Her aim is to “assist the festival in establishing relationships that will enable it to export productions, provide details of opportunities for collaborations and suggest new markets of interest.”
Toronto Film Production Site To Get A Boost
“Filmport, Toronto’s giant but underused film stage, is about to get a new partner – the big British film company Pinewood Studios… If Pinewood does proceed with a partnership in Filmport and brings production business to Toronto, it would be good news for an industry that has been hit hard in recent years.”
Critics’ Choice Nominations Released
“Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button dominated the nominations Tuesday for the Broadcast Film Critics Assn.’s 14th annual Critics’ Choice Awards, receiving eight nods each.”
Selling High-End Theatre In The Midst Of Malaise
“Although Broadway, like pretty much every other industry, is taking its lumps this season, some theater veterans are hoping that as portfolios go down, the appetite for entertainment will go up… Across Broadway, musicals and plays are trying to focus their marketing budgets more effectively.”
LA Film Critics Tap Pixar Hit As Best Film Of ’08
“Wall-E has been named best film of the year by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association as Hollywood gears up for Thursday’s Golden Globe nominations. The Pixar film was chosen ahead of The Dark Knight by the body, which gave its best actor prize to Sean Penn for Milk.”