TURIN – The Hippocratic Oath seems to be the quintessence of the profession of palliative care doctorso with empathy, self-denial, lightness, he accompanies in spirit and in body towards the end of life.
Mario Balsamo chose to make the protagonist the Dr. Claudio Ritossapaliativist precisely, inHospice Anemos of Turintherefore “the ability of a material to absorb an impact without breaking”, i.e. the resiliencewhat in psychology is “an individual’s ability to face and overcome a traumatic event or a period of difficulty”, takes on a precious value.
Balsamo, referring to his previous doc We are not like James Bondin which he recounts his personal journey out of cancer, he recalls that he comes “from films in which I talk about my illness and that of my friend Guido Gabrielli, for which we have always used a key to downplayingwhy there the rhetoric of crying was sickeningterrified us, and we managed not to give this impression, so I’m from an attitude of resilience and from seeing how illness can be an opportunityit is certainly a beacon with a brighter light, and these terminal patients have demonstrated this even more because they are on their last legs; harm a sort of pacification and they convey the nuances of the colors of life, a great teaching.”
The gaze of the Turin doctor are the eyes of Balsamo for Lastlyselected in the 42nd TFF Documentary Competition: death – so life – are the poles of history, which also becomes particular for Ritossa’s passion for plantsan absolute subject in which the concept of is central life cycle and with which the director plays with parallels.
“I started by looking for people who have a dialogue with deathbecause it is then a dialogue with lifeto leave a spiritual testament. I told the stories of the patients, very strong stories from which it also emerges that the presence of these structures in Italy is scarceonly one in three patients has the possibility of accessing treatment” and here a political reflection also comes into play: “Assisted suicide is expensive and therefore creates very strong discrimination, it costs around 20/25 thousand euros; I think it is an anti-democratic formwhich if impossible to practice records situations that are avoided in hospice, i.e people who commit suicide in brutal ways, out of desperationoften not being able to die and thus creating further problems for themselves”, continues Mario Balsamo, who however says he is “in favor of deciding one’s end of life; I am for self-determinationfaced with inhuman conditions and no longer human dignity: of course, with all the necessary certifications. I’m in favor of a law on euthanasia”, equally, with reference to his doc, the director also records that “in assisted suicide there is no dialogue with death, while in the hospice there is”.
The dignity and the awarenessof patients, as well as of those who are next to them and assist them, are the pillars of a very concrete reality, which pulsates with cruelty – to be sure of the term – and in which, equally, beats a heart full of human value. Balsamo chose the “Anemos” hospice, which evokes the breath, a breath of deathwhich then continues, transformed. I have a singular relationship with the wind and every room there has the name of a wind. There is a secularity which does not exclude religious assistance of any kind, a respectful secularism towards everyone” and with respect to Doctor Ritossa he explains he was “looking for a person who also had an external breathwhich showed that we were describing death through life. He is indeed a flower enthusiast and the light bulb immediately went on in my mind: the cycle of plants can make the concept more contingent. I had no limits on their part, the only limits I had set myself were with respect to the authorization of the patients: everyone we asked immediately agreed, including relatives, because they realized theimportance of advertising this type of structure”.
Then entering the dialogue between content and aesthetics cinematographic, Balsamo explains that “being cinema, I have privileged the people who they communicate emotionsboth in silence and in speech. We could shoot 20 days in three roundsso emotionally it was heavy, because in the next session it wasn’t certain I would find the same people. The stylistic choice was simple: sober, respectful and invisible in the rooms; more lively on the outside and insistent on nature, so with the doctor we used the handheld camera to give more dynamism. The choice of color correction was extremebut I’m satisfied with it: there was work to differentiate the internal parts – overexposed to the max, to create a suspended time, a sort of illuminated limbo -, while outside there is a more realistic light of the outside world”.
Lastly is an Italy-Portugal co-production, created with the support of the Film Commission Torino Piemonte – Piemonte Doc Film Fund, the support fund for the development and production of documentaries for cinema.
**How does the title “Facing Mortality: A Conversation on Palliative Care, Dignity, and the Cinema Verité” utilize figurative language to encapsulate the documentary’s themes and approach?** This question prompts analysis of the title’s word choices and their implications.
## Interview:
**Title:** Facing Mortality: A Conversation on Palliative Care, Dignity, and the Cinema Verité
**Guests:**
* Mario Balsamo, Director of *Lastly*
* Dr. Claudio Ritossa, Palliative Care Physician at Hospice Anemos, Turin
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we delve into the deeply personal and often overlooked realm of palliative care through the lens of Mario Balsamo’s docuentary, *Lastly*. This film examines life’s final chapter through the experiences of palliative care patients and the dedicated professionals who support them.
Joining us are the film’s director, Mario Balsamo, and Dr. Claudio Ritossa, the hospice physician at the heart of the film.
Let’s begin.
**Section I: The Art of Palliative Care**
* **Guest (Balsamo):** Your documentary *Lastly* portrays the profound impact of palliative care on both patients and their families. What initially drew you to this subject matter, and what message do you hope to convey through this film?
* **Guest (Ritossa):** Dr. Ritossa, how would you define palliative care to someone unfamiliar with the term? What sets it apart from other medical specialties focused on end-of-life care?
**Section II: Dignity and Resilience in the Face of Mortality**
* **Guest (Balsamo):** The film captures a remarkable sense of resilience and even joy amongst some of the patients despite facing terminal illness. How did you approach capturing these complex emotions on film? What challenges did you face?
* **Guest (Ritossa):** Dr. Ritossa, your passion for plants is intertwined with the film’s narrative. How do you see the natural cycle of growth and decay reflected in the human experience, particularly in the context of end-of-life care?
**Section III: Ethical Dilemmas and the Evolving Conversation around Death**
* **Guest (Balsamo):** The documentary touches upon the controversial topic of assisted suicide. Can you elaborate on your own stance on this issue, as expressed in the film, and the reasoning behind your position?
* **Guest (Ritossa):** Dr. Ritossa, as a palliative care physician, how do you navigate complex ethical dilemmas surrounding patient autonomy, pain management, and end-of-life decisions? What role do you see for ongoing dialog and open communication in these sensitive conversations?
**Section IV: The Beauty of Film as a Medium for Empathy**
* **Guest (Balsamo):** What role do you believe cinema, specifically documentaries, can play in shedding light on often marginalized or misunderstood topics like palliative care? What impact do you hope *Lastly* will have on viewers?
* **Guest (Ritossa):** What was your experience participating in this documentary? How do you hope it will contribute to a greater understanding and appreciation for the work done in palliative care settings?
**Conclusion:**
Thank you to both Mario Balsamo and Dr. Claudio Ritossa for sharing their insights and experiences with us today. We hope this conversation has provided a glimpse into the complex beauty and profound dignity that can be found in the face of death.
We encourage viewers to learn more about palliative care resources in their community and to engage in thoughtful conversations about end-of-life decisions with loved ones.
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