367. Island; movie review

ISLAND
Cert 15
90 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong language, scenes of real death

For seven minutes, the camera lingers over the death throes of a cancer patient.
Alan Hardy, his eyes only open so their whites can be seen, takes one big gulp of air which seems to be his last.
A minute passes and it appears that he has died and then somehow he reaches for what appears to be one final breath.
Only three minutes later, after two more similar gasps, is it clear that he has passed. His is what some would call a peaceful death.
His end was a tough watch. Anyone of our age has seen someone close die and it is always upsetting.
In Mr Hardy's case, at least he had the conviction of going to a better place where he believed he would ballroom dance with his wife.
I am not religious but I hope I am wrong and he is right.
Anyway, Mr Hardy is one of four people who agreed to be filmed in their final days by documentary-maker Steven Eastwood.
All see out their lives in the same hospice in the Isle of Wight where their care is exemplary.
Eastwood seems to have a romantic notion about the island but despite his wistful scenes of ferries leaving and going and waves crashing at the bottom of cliffs, one's mind remains focused on his human subjects.
One, Jamie Gunnell, is the most tragic simply because his life is far from complete.
At just 40, with a very young daughter, he is resigned to his fate but it seems desperately unfair.
Eastwood justifies his film by saying that we need to be more death-aware and not repress what will happen to all of us. Part of me wants to accept his view.
Some might describe him and the four terminally ill people as brave for putting such intensely private moments into the public domain.
But, despite knowing its subjects gave their permission, I felt Island was too intrusive.
This might be because of my conditioning in being wary of death or it might be because I have witnessed that rattle, waited for the last breath and seen the open-mouthed aftermath.
Those occasions will stick in my mind for the rest of my life. I have a sense of dread for the next time I have to endure such a scene. I didn't need to be reminded of them.

Reasons to watch: Boundary-pushing cinema
Reasons to avoid: Death scene

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: part of me says 4/10 because it was so upsetting, part of me says 9/10 for its bravery. I will settle on 7/10

Director quote - Steven Eastwood: "It is a challenging film and I hope a very beautiful and empowering film."

The big question - Is it right to show a real death on the big screen?

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