A Necessary Death (2008)

Director:

Daniel Stamm

Writer:

Daniel Stamm (writer)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Plot:

"Documentary Filmmaker looking for suicidal individual to follow from first preparation to final act." Cut from 142 video tapes, this project sheds light on the tragedy following the infamous Internet ad. |

Plot Keywords:

Suicidal | Documentary Filmmaker | Interview | Written By Director | Documentary Crew

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

G.J. Echternkamp	...	Gilbert
Matthew Tilley	...	Matt
Valerie Hurt	...	Valerie
Michael Traynor	...	Michael
Konima Parkinson-Jones	...	Konima
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shelley Isaacs	...	Grieving Mother
Thomas Moses	...	Cliff Bookends
Talmadge Ragan	...	Ellen Radel
Pamela Salem	...	Matt's Mother
Doris Jung Usui	...	Suicidal Wife

Directed by
Daniel Stamm

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Daniel Stamm		writer

Produced by
G.J. Echternkamp	....	producer
Namarata Tandon	....	associate producer
Brian Udovich	....	producer

Original Music by
Morgan Kibby
Jonathan Leahy

Cinematography by
Zoltan Honti

Film Editing by
David Kashevaroff
Shilpa Sahi

Casting by
Mali Finn

Art Direction by
Thomas S. Hammock

Costume Design by
Marcy Rector

Sound Department
Andy Hay	....	sound designer
Andy Hay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Hay	....	supervising sound editor

Casting Department
Deanna Brigidi	....	casting associate
David Rapaport	....	casting

Music Department
Jonathan Leahy	....	music supervisor

Thanks
Jeff Freilich	....	thanks
Jim McBride	....	thanks
Michael Marius Pessah	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Brickwall Productions

Other Companies

• Spank Machine  post-production sound services

Runtime:

Germany:101 min (European Film Market)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Brickwall Productions

If it doesn't disturb, is it art? This disturbs

I attended the World Premiere of "A Necessary Death" at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival. This is a shocking and controversial feature from director Daniel Stamm.

To say that "A Necessary Death" defies description is an understatement. In fact, it's so unique that to say much more would spoil it. In "A Necessary Death," we follow a young filmmaker as he shoots a documentary about suicide. The kicker is that he actively solicits a subject who has already made plans to off himself and is willing to do it on camera.

For me, it's intensely personal. I lost a close friend to suicide about nine months ago and haven't really struggled with it as much as I'd expected to. I think I understand why he did what he did and the notion that someone taking their own life might be "justified" is something that is taboo in this society. This film breaks that taboo, and, in so doing, sheds some light on an issue which is so foreign to most people that they look at me with a mixture of disgust and wonder when I bring it up.

Needless to say, the film addresses issues of ethics, legality, and responsibility for the actions of others. The viewer's comfort level is tested as the film pushes the envelope of what's acceptable in cinema. The question is posed, "If it isn't disturbing, is it art?" "A Necessary Death" surely disturbs.