Borrasca
Speaking Grief explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death- and grief-avoidant society. There is nothing more universal than the act of grieving, yet grief has become…
Borrasca
Speaking Grief explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death- and grief-avoidant society. There is nothing more universal than the act of grieving, yet grief has become taboo. Moving away from the idea that grief is a problem that needs to be "fixed," this documentary validates grief as a normal, healthy part of the human experience. Speaking Grief also addresses the role support from friends and family plays in a person's grief experience, introducing ideas for how we can get better at showing up for people in their darkest moments. When it comes to grief, there is a huge disconnect between expectation and reality. In order to get better at responding to grief, we need to understand what it is-and isn't. Speaking Grief provides insight into the experience of grief and addresses these common misconceptions: . There is one, correct way to grieve - Grief is a universal experience, but it's also individual; no two people will grieve the same way. A person's grief is shaped by the unique relationship they had with their loved one, the circumstances of the death, their cultural background, spiritual beliefs, and a myriad of other factors. . Grief is a purely emotional experience - There are physical, mental, and practical dimensions as well, many of which leave grieving individuals feeling as if there is something wrong with them. . Grief is finite - Many people assume that grief is finite and that, in a matter of weeks, months, or years, it eventually concludes and people "get over it" and "move on." Grief changes over time, but it doesn't end. . A support person's job is to cheer their grieving person up - Well-intentioned words of "comfort" (e.g., "At least they're in a better place") often do more harm than good. Effective support involves letting people tell the truth about their pain without attempting to take it away from them. . "Let me know if you need anything." - People often make generic offers of help that place the burden of asking for assistance on the grieving person/family rather than being pro-active and offering concrete options (e.g., "I'd love to come over and take out the recycling for you, would that be ok?"). . Kids grieve the same way adults do - Children's grief is unique and can often manifest in ways that can be overlooked, or worse, perceived as behavior problems. Speaking Grief features diverse representations of grief through candid interviews with seven families from across the country whose losses range from stillbirth to suicide. This documentary is one component of a larger public media initiative that includes online learning resources for both grievers and support people, educational screening events, and a social media campaign around grief awareness and support. All these components are aimed at starting a national conversation that will ultimately help create a more grief-aware society.
Borrasca
Drama
Film Details
Speaking Grief explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death- and grief-avoidant society. There is nothing more universal than the act of grieving, yet grief has become taboo. Moving away from the idea that grief is a problem that needs to be "fixed," this documentary validates grief as a normal, healthy part of the human experience.
Speaking Grief also addresses the role support from friends and family plays in a person's grief experience, introducing ideas for how we can get better at showing up for people in their darkest moments. When it comes to grief, there is a huge disconnect between expectation and reality. In order to get better at responding to grief, we need to understand what it is-and isn't.
Speaking Grief provides insight into the experience of grief and addresses these common misconceptions: . There is one, correct way to grieve - Grief is a universal experience, but it's also individual; no two people will grieve the same way. A person's grief is shaped by the unique relationship they had with their loved one, the circumstances of the death, their cultural background, spiritual beliefs, and a myriad of other factors.
. Grief is a purely emotional experience - There are physical, mental, and practical dimensions as well, many of which leave grieving individuals feeling as if there is something wrong with them. .
Grief is finite - Many people assume that grief is finite and that, in a matter of weeks, months, or years, it eventually concludes and people "get over it" and "move on." Grief changes over time, but it doesn't end. . A support person's job is to cheer their grieving person up - Well-intentioned words of "comfort" (e.g., "At least they're in a better place") often do more harm than good.
Effective support involves letting people tell the truth about their pain without attempting to take it away from them. . "Let me know if you need anything." - People often make generic offers of help that place the burden of asking for assistance on the grieving person/family rather than being pro-active and offering concrete options (e.g., "I'd love to come over and take out the recycling for you, would that be ok?").
. Kids grieve the same way adults do - Children's grief is unique and can often manifest in ways that can be overlooked, or worse, perceived as behavior problems. Speaking Grief features diverse representations of grief through candid interviews with seven families from across the country whose losses range from stillbirth to suicide.
This documentary is one component of a larger public media initiative that includes online learning resources for both grievers and support people, educational screening events, and a social media campaign around grief awareness and support. All these components are aimed at starting a national conversation that will ultimately help create a more grief-aware society..