Activities:

Focusing on the young people in the film and their experiences provides an accessible way into a sensitive subject often perceived as taboo. This provides a safety net for students and teachers who will be able to judge the level at which to work with the subject within the context of their school or college.

Before viewing
Teachers should familiarise themselves with any policy and guidelines that apply and have a strategy for managing the situation where a student is upset.

Real life experiences of bereavement in the film:

1) Natasha’s story, and Iain's story
2) Sophie’s story
3) Kirsten, Tabitha, Mandy and Ryan’s stories – The Pedro Project

You may wish to work with each part individually or have different groups focus on a particular area or character if working with the whole film. (see outline)

After viewing
1. Ask the class, or groups, to describe the cause of death in each case. You may want ‘low key’ discussion about this or to put names on the board and build up information about the four deaths.

Natasha’s mum – car crash
Iain’s dad – terminal illness
Sophie’s mum – terminal illness
Pedro Project member’s friend Peter – car crash


2. Through discussion gradually build up a profile of how each person felt:

a) on hearing the person was dead
b) immediately afterwards
c) about the funeral and other arrangements
d) in the longer term
e) about things that helped them cope.

Discuss the similarities and differences among characters. A grid may be useful. What were the similarities and differences surrounding the deaths?

Key questions
Could anything have helped individuals before, during and after their experience?
Have students come to any general conclusions about death, grief, bereavement and people's reactions and responses to it?
What ideas do students have about managing the complex issues around death?
In what ways could schools and colleges help? Who else could help? How?
(This could contribute to development of policy, policy review, curriculum, etc.)