Dreams of a Life

[Celini]

documentary!
it's half interview/half reenactment

[TheDude]

Debating whether to see this in the next few days, sounds interesting but very very depressing being just before Xmas.

[Celini]

It'll definitely make you think, but it's so well pieced together that it's not as depressing as it could have been

(Way less depressing than Margaret)

[Ms Thrifty]

I saw this yesterday and agree that it's not depressing, contrary to what you might think. I found it fascinating and thought-provoking. I'd love to know why her sisters declined to take part.

[Celini]

we went to the Q&A, the director definitely mentioned the family but I don't remember exactly what she said for the sisters... maybe sf can help?

[Ms Thrifty]

The director's research notes, on post-its which you saw at intervals, contained some tantalising snippets. I recall the family's choice not to get involved being recorded on one; I think another said the same about an ex-fiance, but who was he, and was he also the person from it was suggested she might have tried to escape? So many mysteries apart from the main one.

[prettyxcool]

Finally, saw this last weekend, at the Made in Britain season at the BFI, dedicated to British women filmmakers. I chose this film as the synopsis on the BFI website intrigued me. How can someone die and not be discovered until 3 years later? Where were her friends and family, and the utility companies, and the landlord?

This was an extremely sad documentary, shocking and tragic. It really is thought provoking and I am still thinking about it days later. However, it was far too long and the last half an hour or so dragged.

The film tries to find out who this person was and why such a vibrant, beautiful young girl with everything going for her, a responsible job, and even meeting Nelson Mandela, 13 years earlier, and other stars, died in her bedsit surrounded by Christmas presents she had partially wrapped, and no-one knew or noticed that she had died alone. It was not about how she died but about it taking 3 years for her skeleton to be discovered, watching TV which was still on. Her electricity was not cut off, her rent was not chased, no one complained about smells, none of her friends contacted her, nor her doting ex's and her family, where were they? She had four sisters. Nothing was known about her, until what the film maker's investigation had pieced together, to leave this memory of her. Very sad. 8/10

The newspaper report that sparked the filmmaker to make this film.
http://dreamsofalife.com/home/newspaper

[Celini]

I realised sf has actually never reviewed this!!!
Slacker

[elski]

it's going to be on channel 4 on thursday at 10pm