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In the words of others...

‘How people die remains in the memory of those who live on’

Dame Cicely Saunders

Bereavement is a darkness impenetrable to the imagination of the unbereaved.

Iris Murdoch (British Novelist and Philosopher, 1919-1999)

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Home » Resources » Films » I Didn't Want That

Film: 'I Didn't Want That'

Commissioned by Dying Matters, 'I Didn't Want That' is a poignant and powerful film highlighting the importance of making your end of life wishes clear.

Released as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week 2012, this carefully crafted short film was created to act as a stimulus for making end of life wishes clear and changing the way the nation thinks about death.

Watch 'I Didn't Want That'

Featuring five scenarios, from choosing whether you wish to be resuscitated to making preparations for your pets, the film examines what can happen if you fail to make your wishes known.

The film, produced by pFlix Films, has high production values, a brilliant cast and a delicate touch. Among the highlights are undoubtedly scenes shot at Barnabas Church in East London, showing a flamboyant gay funeral – the last thing that the person who died would have asked for if they had talked about their wishes.

'I Didn't Want That' was released as research by ComRes for Dying Matters showed that less than a third of people have talked to someone about their end of life wishes and just over a quarter have asked a family member about theirs.

Sam Turner, Director of Public Engagement at the Dying Matters Coalition, commented: “ 'I Didn’t Want That' is a fantastic short film which will hopefully win over hearts and minds about the importance of talking to people about your end of life wishes. Talking about dying is rarely easy, but unless all of us feel more comfortable doing so we run the risk of not getting our wishes met and leaving a mess for those close to us.”

pFilx Films has worked with Dying Matters on several projects and are also behind the Cannes Film Festival-nominated 'Dying to Know', which was also released to mark Dying Matters Awareness Week.

Watch the making of 'I Didn't Want That' featuring behind the scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew.

More

Dying Matters Awareness Week survey

Gallery: on the set of 'I Didn't Want That'

Watch 'Dying to Know', nominated for Cannes Film Festival

Alexei Sayle confronts attitudes to death and humour in 'Last Laugh'

pFlix Films - external link.

'I Didn't Want That' credits
Crew
Producer & Director: Leon Ancliffe
Executive Producer: National Council for Palliative Care & Dying Matters
Production Manager: Claire Pope
Assistant Director: Abi Rufai
Director of Photography: Amarjeet Singh
Sound: Luke Hollingworth
Make-up: Fran Hounsom
Runner: James Evered
2nd Runner: Diana Monteiro
Editor: John Holloway
Edit Assistants: Claire Pope & Leon Ancliffe
Composer: Adam Langston

Cast
Anne: Jeanette Rourke
Robin: Bryan Hands
Julie: Sydnee Howard
Bacon the dog: Provided by Jo-Ann Essex at Scruffy Dogs
Gareth: Eddy Brimson
David: Russell Barnett
Doctor: Sakuntala Ramanee
Nurse: Rachel Summers
Paramedic: Dan Avery
Rose: Jean Apps
Workman 1: Tim Parker
Workman 2: Marc Forde
Colin Elding and David Bowen, members of the resuscitation team at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

Extras
Aimee Augier * Holly Bacea * Benedette del Balt * Agnes Besser * Samuel Bradford * Stephen Butler * Amanda Jane O’Brien * Joanna Chapman * Elissa Churchill * Errol Clayton * Ben Claxton * Anna Cole * Anthony Cranfield * Melissa Creenall * Mark Delacour * Sofia Doyle * Jackie Djekhooh * Shermadene Edwards * Rosemary Ellis * Marc Forde * Richard Fairbrother * Fearghal Kauanagh * Zoe Manns * Diana Monteiro * Matthew Nikbakht * Rachel Nolan * Mandy Paine * Emily Pearson * Holly Riott * Tania Rowe * Hannah Sayer * D. Scanlian * Esther Sclupper * Eleanor Sherwen * Guy Smart * Peter Smith * Tes Smith * Zulu Smith * Tobias Tak * Sam Turner * Sally Wallwork * Joanne Wing

Drag Queens
Aaron Johns AKA - Vicki Vivacious
Reece Taylor AKA - Dis Grace

Special thanks to
The LGBT Consortium
The Communications Team at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust

With special thanks to the following for their generosity: Jane Stokes, End of Life Care Facilitator, Colin Elding and David Bowen, members of the resuscitation team at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust * Cathy Maylin * Artur Kaczorowski * Mark Barling at Trinity Hospice, * Removals with a Smile, * The Film Office, * Fitness First in Bow Wharf, Green Endings, * St Barnabas Church - with special thanks to Simon James Collier and Omar Okai * Barry Bassett at VMI * Scruffy Dogs * David Whitmore at The London Ambulance Service * Katie Rourke * Carolyn Menteith * Aimee Auiger * Daphne Murrow * Matt Lloyd * Jane Hillier.

Related links: 
Dying to Know receives rapturous Cannes reception
Last Laugh
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The National Council for Palliative Care

The Dying Matters Coalition is led by the National Council for Palliative Care, the umbrella charity for end of life care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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