Andy, Jayne, Ben, Lou and Junior. My Last Summer.
Picture: Channel 4.
Newest Channel 4 documentary follows
five terminally ill people who come together to talk about, sometimes frankly,
about their impending deaths. They laugh, cry, joke, talk – but crucially,
their dying.
Sobfest 2014. That's what sprung to mind when My Last Summer was
advertised recently. In reality, over an hour of viewing and there's fewer sob
stories than an episode of X Factor. Don't get me wrong, there's a tear or two
for their heartache and families, but these people know that discussing death
is a taboo. It's a subject no-one wants to think about, let alone voice. Executive
Producer, Kieran Smith hopes that people “…gain strength from it, and learn
from it. And for there to be an openness that this will one day happen to all
of us, so we have to talk about it.” Although true, the fact remains that some
people must prepare sooner than others.
Diagnosed in 2007, Lou has motor neurone disease. She talks with her
eldest of “chocolate-ing” rather than dying but has been open with her four
children about her condition. Junior, an ex-DJ, suffers with prostate cancer.
His relationship with girlfriend Sonja is genuine and moving yet unsettling and
broken. She admits they wouldn’t still be together without the cancer. Jayne
had breast cancer that metastasised. Although she comes across strong and bold,
her marriage is facing separation due to her husband’s disconnection with her
diagnosis. After being cleared of leukaemia, Andy is now faced with lung
complications that are terminal and there’s Ben, who has made a conscious
decision to distance himself from family and friends. He is also dying of
leukaemia.
Through the drama and situations of the programme, Jayne is seen crying
after opening up about her marriage and Junior has a serious argument with
Sonja that felt slightly awkward to watch. Yet it was Ben who caught the eye –
even if from the corner of the camera. He was, aesthetically, the most affected
by his disease, deciding to face his illness alone, still carrying his
cigarettes wherever he goes. When we first meet him he sarcastically remarks
that it would make for a better show if someone were to die during filming. And
that may be true but in heart, Ben’s story is the saddest of the group.
This new Channel 4 documentary was certainly upsetting but there was an
intriguing strength to it. Instead of squeezing you of sympathy it showed you
how some people can see the world when their facing the scariest moment of
life. The end. In the first of four parts there was a good introduction to the
stronger personalities of the group, some of which voting in favour of
euthanasia. But, hopefully we’ll see a deeper insight into the more thoughtful
and quieter characters next time around.
One things for sure. Don’t take anything for granted.
