FOLLOWING on from their highly acclaimed film ‘A Love that Never Dies’, The Good Grief Project charity is set to screen their new film ‘Beyond the Mask’, a thought-provoking documentary that examines the lived experience of grief during the pandemic.
The Good Grief Project is the brainchild of bereaved Chalford parents Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds whose son Josh died in a road accident in Vietnam in 2011, while he was on a six-month tour of the Far East. He was 22.
Produced by Jimmy and Jane and made entirely during the pandemic, ‘Beyond the Mask’ premieres on the anniversary of the UK being plunged into a first national lockdown. It will be launched with a special free online screening hosted by the Death Positive Libraries Project and co-presented with acclaimed author and campaigner Dr. Kathryn Mannix, on March 25, 7 pm.
There are echoes of Jane’s and Jimmy’s personal trauma – their son Josh died suddenly, a long way from home – they too never got to say goodbye.
Director, Jane, said: “Grief in these times has thrown up new challenges for us,” and ‘Beyond The Mask’ invites us to re-evaluate what is important in our lives. So many people feel unheard and isolated and need to be free to speak about their experiences and we want to help share them.”
Jane is also a psychotherapist and invites intimate reflections from the participants despite the fact that all her conversations are conducted remotely.
It is estimated that 2.5 million lives have been lost to the pandemic worldwide. For each life lost, between five and nine others are affected in a significant way. This means there are potentially 22 million bereaved individuals who have been catapulted into grief at the hand of the Coronavirus, many of whom will suffer poor mental health having been robbed of opportunities to properly say goodbye to their loved ones.
Appearing in the film, palliative care consultant turned author and campaigner, Dr. Kathryn Mannix added: “One of the things everyone is worried about is what is the bereavement epidemic going to look like after this.”
Dr. Mannix will share the platform with Jane and Jimmy for the question & answer panel following the screening.
The film also looks at the toll lockdown is having on people with life-limiting illnesses and features disability campaigner Lucy Watts MBE (27) who is terrified she will be refused treatment should she be admitted to hospital. Lucy said: “Covid has brought out the worst in all of this – we are making judgements based on resources and on who’s the fittest. I very much worry that there will be a judgement my life is not worth living.”
Beyond The Mask explores many aspects that both grief and the pandemic share – isolation, mask wearing, the sense of time stopping, the loss of confidence, the challenge to one’s sense of self, the damage to mental health and of course the various ways we are having to adjust to our “new normal”.
LAUNCH INFO
THE GOOD GRIEF PROJECT is partnering with DEATH POSITIVE LIBRARIES to screen BEYOND THE MASK online on Thursday 25th March 2021 – 19.00 – 21-00 GMT
TICKETS are free and available here: BOOK HERE
