Short film tackles MAID through storytelling
Emily Schooley uses the power of storytelling in her latest project, “The Sweetest Goodbye,” to tackle and bring awareness to a tough, touchy subject still taboo in today’s society — medical assistance in dying (MAID).
Premiering at the Valkyrie International Film Festival at the Screening Room Cinema & Arts Café in Amherst, N.Y., the just more than 14-minute-long film is one of five nominated for best drama and stars Schooley and co-star Salma Dharsee.
Films at the festival selected for screening must have been directed by a woman, and any co-directors must also be female, it said on its website.
Asked what made her want to take on MAID, Schooley shared her personal beliefs.
“I believe people should have the right to personal autonomy including the right to choose their own ‘good death,' but if there is a nonlethal solution to a problem, we should absolutely be providing that solution to individuals first,” she said in an email interview.
Living in the west end of Toronto near Lake Ontario, the Port Colborne native said she likes to foster nuanced conversations about complex topics. The film facilitates further discussion on MAID and it’s something she’s grateful to bring to the world — as difficult and messy as the work can be.
“I make it a point to speak openly about ‘tough stuff’ as often as possible as a means of creating that space for others.”
Schooley said one thing she noticed about MAID supporters is they are generally more wealthy.
“Whereas disabled people are rightfully sounding the alarm on the poverty-to-MAID pipeline. I think there’s room to come to a third, middle ground where everyone can be equally heard.
“This film exists because I believe that right now, we as a society need to be having honest conversations about MAID that are framed through the lens of disability justice and intersectional inclusivity, because we are repeatedly failing our most vulnerable citizens by offering MAID without aid. Like in the case of the (Niagara) woman who pursued it because she could not find safe, accessible housing. How do we as a society let that happen?”
In “The Sweetest Goodbye,” Schooley plays Clara, who grapples with societal abandonment and longing for a sense of agency over her life as her best friend Skye, played by Dharsee, confronts her about the irreversible choice she’s about to make.
“I’ve also known a handful of people over the years who openly pursued MAID or who supported dying with dignity (before MAID was decriminalized)," Schooley said. "Those experiences, plus my conviction — there are certain circumstances in which I, too, would choose (MAID) — make it a little easier to embrace Clara’s singular point of view.”
And in a strange life-meets-art twist, the father of Schooley's best friend chose a MAID death at home, about the time post-production was near completion in 2023.
“I was there with her throughout, and it was a profound thing to be part of first-hand," she said.
“In terms of the gravitas of the topic, I’ve always been a little weird, I suppose, but I am pretty comfortable with death and dying and all things dark. So, there wasn't a huge emotional toll on me in terms of working with or portraying the subject matter.
“In terms of the larger MAID discourse, I’ve sat through multiple pet euthanasias over the years, which has given me some perspective on how much more peaceful a chosen and safe death can be, which is why I believe the option should be made available to everyone if they actively want it.”
The script for “The Sweetest Goodbye,” filmed over two days at a friend’s Airbnb in Fergus, Ont., by cinematographer Christine Buijs, went through about two and a half drafts over a handful of months before going to camera.
She said some of her favourite lines in the film were improvised on set between Dharsee and herself.
The “autumnal palette” in the film is the creation of production designer Justine Cargo, and the original score is by composer David Federman, Schooley said.
The film was produced by her company Laughing Cat Productions, formed in 2020.
She said Laughing Cat is developing a slate of new projects she’s excited to make.
“What we’ve got planned is ambitious. We’re hoping to raise $5 million, which will support our upcoming work and ensure the creation of two feature films, a sixepisode digital short-form series and the launch of a flagship genre series.
Schooley said being nominated for best drama feels validating, especially because Valkyrie is the first festival the film is playing at.
“I also appreciate knowing that the stories we’re telling resonate that deeply with our audiences.”
Updates will be provided at Instagram.com/laughingcatproductions, and when the film finishes its festival run, likely in 2025, will be for rent/sale on laughingcatproductions.ca and other video-on-demand platforms like Projektor.
A trailer for the film can be found at vimeo.com/laughingcatproductions.