In The Parlor: The Final Goodbye

In The Parlor, a new documentary by film maker Heidi Boucher, takes a look at people who are rejecting the mainstream tradition of hiring funeral professionals to care for the deceased, families in search of a more personal and fulfilling way to say goodbye are taking an active role in caring for relatives who have died.

Karen van Vuuren of Natural Transitions in Boulder, an organization that provides education on conscious, holistic, and green approaches to end of life, including family-directed home-based after-death care also known as “home funerals,” says the film challenges us to reflect on this uncomfortable subject, which so often is hidden away and ignored.

“This film focuses on three families and also explores the American view towards death and provides I think a lot of insights about why we have this relationship to death in this country with actually handing over more to an industry rather than doing it ourselves.”

In the Parlor will be screened as a benefit for Natural Transitions on Thursday October 26th at the Nomad Theater in North Boulder. Film starts at 7PM. Following the film, panel discussion with families who have experienced natural, home-based death care and with Prescott Knock of The Natural Funeral, a new concept green funeral service, natural deathcare gift shop and educational center in Lafayette, Colorado (sponsors of this event).

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