The Vanishing Line
The Vanishing Line follows physician/filmmaker Maren Monsen's journey toward understanding the art and issues of dying. A contemplative and personal film, The Vanishing Line takes viewers on a lyrical and heartfelt quest to discover an "art of dying" in a world that teaches physicians how to prolong life, but offers few prescriptions for coping with death. She learns from Jim Brigham, a hospice social worker who works with terminally ill clients, negotiating in advance whether they want to be resuscitated, what comfort measures to take, and whether to go to a hospital or die at home. In this age of medical "miracles," an increasing number of doctors, hospice workers, patients, and their families are being forced to ask these questions.
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"I hope that after seeing this film, people will look at death in a different way. We talk about quality of life, yet never quality of death."
-Maren Grainger-Monsen, MD
Honors
- Nominated by P.O.V. for a National Emmy Award (1999)
- Selected for INPUT (the International Public TV Conference) (1999)
- Program of the Year National Hospice Organization (1998)
- First Place, Nashville Independent Film Festival (1998)
- One From the Heart Award, Mid-Peninsula Hospice (1998)