Remembering Tom
By Daryl K. Davis
National Film Board of Canada

This powerful film explores the tragic aftermath of a young man's suicide, and its devastating impact on his entire family. Tom was eighteen when he killed himself, leaving his mother, father, sister and brother to deal with the anguish of his death. Two years later his sister Rachel, now seventeen, describes how the event changed her life, and confesses that she had to overcome suicidal thoughts of her own in the months after her brother died. It was, she says, "the greatest pain anyone can imagine."

All the members of this seemingly close-knit family speak of their feelings of shock, loss, and guilt, but they also convey the ways they have learned to live with, not "get over," Tom's suicide. Their strength and resilience offer hope that, although we cannot always prevent such a tragedy, we can make effective choices about how to cope as a survivor.

24 minutes
© 1999
Purchase $199.00 DVD
Order No. QA-320
ISBN (DVD) 1-57295-916-9

Reviews
"Suicide is never the final word for families left behind who must cope with the loss and pain. This program would be a very useful tool for group discussions and awareness programs for those struggling with the aftermath of teen suicide. Highly recommended." Video Librarian

"The strength of this short and carefully edited documentary is a strong, articulate, and unembarrassed first-person narrative that shifts between Tom's family members. The documentation accompanying the video offers suggested activities as well as a caution citing the potential for strong reactions among viewing audiences. Highly recommended for audiences that wish to understand the family bereavement process surrounding suicide, particularly the health professions, social work, and counseling." MC Journal

Awards & Conference Screenings
Bronze, Columbus International Film Festival
National Council on Family Relations Media Festival

Related Films
The Choice of a Lifetime: The disturbing but ultimately inspiring stories of six people, 21 to 73 and from a variety of backgrounds, who stepped back from the brink of suicide.

Self Deliverance: This unflinching portrait was filmed in Australia's Northern Territory, where Parliament was debating the world's first legislation guaranteeing terminally ill people the right to a physician-assisted death. It includes articulate testimony from physicians on both sides of this controversial issue, but its primary focus is on one courageous man's determination to confront death in his own way.

A Need to Connect: An honest, intimate portrait of a young woman who attempted suicide after the man she loved killed himself in her presence.

Help Me Die: Explores the controversial subject of euthanasia, through the stories of people who seek to end their pain through suicide, and others who choose hospice care.

A Fate Worse than Death?: Families and caregivers confront the heartrending decision of whether to withdraw artificial life supports from loved ones in a coma or vegetative state.

Toward Daylight: Suicide is never the final word for those left behind. It alters lives forever and crosses all human boundaries. TOWARD DAYLIGHT kindles the hope necessary for the living to face, and then move on from, the pain and loss of suicide.

To rent or purchase this film, please visit the Icarus Films website

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