Parental bereavement is different to other types of loss in its intensity and level of distress. As a way of raising awareness of parental bereavement in Ireland and encouraging conversation and support, the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) is hosting the Irish premiere of the documentary, A Love that Never Dies, in Dublin on Thursday 4 April.
The film is by parents Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds, who founded The Good Grief Project, following the death of their son Josh in a road accident in Vietnam in 2011. Jane is a psychotherapist and Jimmy is a BAFTA award winning film maker, together they made A Love That Never Dies as a way of honouring their son’s memory.
The documentary follows them as they set off from the UK on their own road trip across the USA to find out why, in a world where death always makes front page news, real-life conversations about death, dying and bereavement are so problematic. Over a three month period, they met and filmed 13 families all of whom shared remarkable stories of living beyond the death of their own child.
Jane and Jimmy will attend the Dublin premiere on Thursday 4 April at the ODEON Point Square, Point Village.
Speaking ahead of the event, Jane says: “In making our film, our first and last impulse was to gather stories that would produce a documentary in which we could represent a version of what it means to grieve. These are personal stories that, collected together into one narrative, we hope provide insight to the fears and hopes of all bereaved parents (at least those in the western world).”
“This is important, both to substantiate the experience of people traumatised by the death of their child and also to help people who care for the bereaved either as professionals or as friends.”
The free screening is open to the general public and organisations/people that provide support to bereaved parents across Ireland. It will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and representatives from Irish bereavement support organisations.
Head of Education & Bereavement at the IHF is Orla Keegan: “We are delighted and proud to host this film premiere; through its beautiful journey it gives some insight into what for most of us is an unimaginable loss. We invite bereaved parents who may have lost a child of any age to attend. We also hope however that this film gives neighbours, friends and all of us the permission to continue talking with families about a child who has died – their memory lasts and love never dies”.
Refreshments will be available in the iSense Lounge in the ODEON Point Square after the Q&A and people will have an opportunity to meet with others attending the event and bereavement organisations if they wish.
A very limited number of tickets are available. Register on Eventbrite here .
*Organisations represented on the night will include Anam Cara, Bumbleance, Féileacáin, FirstLight, HUGG, Irish Road Victims Association, Jack and Jill, LauraLynn, A Little Lifetime and the Irish Hospice Foundation.
For more info about the film: www.alovethatneverdiesfilm.com
Read more about the Good Grief Project here: www.thegoodgriefproject.co.uk
For our bereavement tools and resources, visit www.bereaved.ie
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“This film will change the way the world see grief”
Scarlett Lewis, Mother of Sandy Hook Victim
“Tender and uplifting. Raw and real”
Kathryn Mannix, author – With The End In Mind
