A Short Stay in Switzerland (TV 2009)

Just after losing her husband to a similar condition, Dr Anne Turner is diagnosed with a fatal neurological condition. So she plans to end her life herself. Based on a true story.

Director:

Simon Curtis

Writer:

Frank McGuinness

Stars:

Julie Walters, Stephen Campbell Moore, Lyndsey Marshal

1 win & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Walters	...	Dr. Anne Turner
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	Edward
Lyndsey Marshal	...	Jessica
Liz White	...	Sophie
Michelle Fairley	...	Mrs. Savery
Will Knightley	...	Jack
Patrick Malahide	...	Richard
Harriet Walter	...	Clare
Sagar Arya	...	Kedar
Anthony Shuster	...	Stephen
Bruce Alexander	...	Doctor
Christian McKay	...	Carsten
Peter Foley	...	Electrician
Fergus Walsh	...	Interviewer
Susan Porrett	...	Receptionist

Storyline

Just after losing her husband to a similar condition, Dr Anne Turner is diagnosed with a fatal neurological condition. So she plans to end her life herself. Based on a true story.

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Plot Keywords:

death of husband | switzerland | female doctor | social issue | terminal illness | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Eine kurze Reise in die Schweiz

Filming Locations:

Hersham, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Did You Know?

Goofs

In January trees in Switzerland are bald. The filming must have taken place in summertime.

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Quotes

[Anne is discussing her planned suicide with the doctor from Dignitas]
Swiss Doctor: The procedure will take place in our organisation's apartment. A trained volunteer will assist you. He will have to video you taking the medicine which I will prescribe.
Dr. Anne Turner: [in a weak voice] Yes, I understand.
Swiss Doctor: And your children will be with you.
Dr. Anne Turner: To the end, yes. It's what they want.
Swiss Doctor: Is it what *you* want, Dr Turner?
[Anne pauses for a long time]
Dr. Anne Turner: I thought it was. Thought I knew for sure. But now I know something I didn't before ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

In memory of Dr. Anne Turner who died in Zurich on 24th January 2006.

User Reviews

A woman with a hideous, fatal, neurological illness fights to die on her own terms.

After nursing her husband through the last throes of a hideous, debilitating disease, a woman doctor learns that she has a similar illness herself. She determines to die on her own terms, but first, she must convince her three grown children that the time is approaching for them to let her go. The title refers to an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland, where she and her children must travel in secret, due to the harsh laws against such suicides of choice in the U.K. itself. As might be expected, the film has some heart-wrenching moments, sometimes small scenes where the woman bids goodbye to a beloved cat, as well as larger scenes, where her children say their final goodbyes to her. Based on the actual life and death of Dr. Anne Turner, the film features exquisite performances from Julie Waters as the mother, and Stephen Campbell Moore, Lyndsey Marshall, and Liz White as the three adult children. The movie is a plea for the legalization of assisted suicide and the right of everyone to die with dignity. It is not an easy movie to watch but is well worth the experience of having done so.