- Welcome to Independent Lens!
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of PBS Wisconsin's Director's Cut.
In 2018, the New York Times did a story
on what was called the "death positive movement."
The movement is all about encouraging people
to speak openly about death, not shying away from it,
and even living life harder in the face of it.
In tonight's film, we meet a main character
who practices this idea fully
in the film Sister Úna Lived a Good Death.
Sister Úna is a lifelong Irish Catholic wise-cracking nun,
who has lived her life
not how one would normally think a nun lives.
She swears like a sailor, dons flannel,
and smokes Camel cigarettes.
A feminist who was raised in Boston,
she has been a social justice warrior for over 30 years,
and has served her community in many different forms,
as a youth minister, teacher, and aid worker.
Tonight's film follows Sister Úna
over her last nine months of life,
after she finds out she has cancer.
She faces death much how she's lived:
mischievously!
Sister Úna considers knowing her time is limited as a blessing,
as opposed to a sudden abrupt death.
Instead of shutting down, becoming resentful,
and living her last days in mourning,
she chooses to up the ante, double down,
and live her remaining days to the fullest--
or what Sister Úna considers "living a good death."
Her message: embrace your humanity, warts and all,
and approach the world with kindness.
Sister Úna's personality is infectious, to say the least.
So much so, the director Par Parekh, who was raised Hindu,
and producer Ali Hart, who was raised Jewish,
felt compelled to tell her story.
In his director's statement, Parekh says that,
"As long as there are Sister Únas
"leaving their inclusive legacy of civic engagement
in this world, we still have hope."
Just how much of an influence did Sister Úna have
on the filmmaking team?
In honor of her, they included
how they want their funerals to be
in their filmmaker bios.
Per says he wants a comedy roast, dancing in the streets,
and chocolate chip cookies for all.
Producer Ali Hart says
she would like people to wear costumes and have belly laughs.
It's a true testament to a life well-lived
when those telling your story
choose to face death in the same fashion as their leading lady.
Sister Úna Lived a Good Death starts now on PBS Wisconsin,
your home for independent film.