A Perfect Day

- “What is modern medicine doing for those facing death?” - “Why must the lives of the sick and suffering be so unhappy?” - “What makes it possible for people at the end of life to have a ‘perfect day’?” Many people still have misconceptions about hospice care. Often thought of as a place where nothing is done for the sick, a place to go and die, a place like heaven, this hospice is far from a “perfect” or “peaceful” place. Doctors, nurses, family members, and the patients themselves are often anxious, fearful, and in conflict. They are all trying to figure out how to help each patient live their final moments in a way that feels right for them. Since every person has their own idea of what a good death looks like, there is no single answer. We followed the lives of patients, families, and medical staff at a hospice hospital in South Korea from spring to autumn of 2023. The production team volunteered at the hospice for five months, observing the daily lives of everyone there without staging or interference. This film makes the point that even people facing death have human rights and deserve to live the life they want until the very end. It also asks what modern medicine and society should be doing to support them in this.