Death becomes her

Kübler Ross gained international fame through her work with the terminally ill. Frenetic Films

A new film about the life of Elizabeth Kübler Ross is drawing big audiences across Switzerland.

“Facing Death”, by the Swiss film director, Stefan Haupt, profiles the woman who is credited with breaking the taboos surrounding death with her best-selling book, “On Death and Dying”.

“I want to meet Gandhi and Jung” – Kübler Ross’s opening words in the film go straight to the heart of her work and to her situation now.

Born in Zurich, the 76-year-old former doctor who became world famous because of her work in the United States with the terminally ill, is now facing death herself.

A series of strokes have left her partially paralysed and housebound in an isolated region of Arizona.

With a certain amount of humour tinged with bitterness, the film shows the thanatologist planning who she will meet “on the other side”.

Ironically, the woman who tried to teach so many patients to face death with acceptance and dignity is now raging against the dying of the light herself.

In demand

Despite her age and infirmity, Kübler Ross still receives several interview requests every week.

Yet Haupt, who decided to make a film about her after reading one of her books, was far from certain that she would agree to participate.

“I phoned her up and she said ‘I never say no to a Swiss person’,” Haupt told swissinfo. “She just asked me to bring some Swiss biscuits with me, which I did, and six weeks later I was there.”

Haupt, whose film “Utopia Blues” won the Swiss film prize last year, takes great care in his new film to really get to know his subject.

As a result, “Facing Death” deals primarily with Kübler Ross herself rather than with her formidable body of work.

“She has written over 20 books,” explained Haupt. “And I think the appropriate way to get to know her work is through her books, not through a film.”

Instead, Haupt makes extensive use of archive material to document Kübler Ross’s early life in Zurich and her later fame working in the US.

Humour

Despite the fact that death is an ever present element in the film, the film is suffused with humour and frequently has the audience laughing out loud.

Kübler Ross was one of triplets, and the interviews Haupt conducted with her two sisters are among the high points of the film.

“Part of the humour comes from the three sisters, the triplets talking,” he explained. “The way they talk about each other is very funny at times as they have very sharp tongues.”

“I wanted to keep these elements because they provide balance. The sad parts and the funny parts make up a whole life.”

Box office success

“Facing Death” has exceeded Haupt’s expectations in its first few days on general release, drawing unusually large crowds at the box office.

“I’m really delighted,” he said. “I didn’t imagine so many people would want to see it.”

Haupt also admits that, while he chose not to go too deeply into Kübler Ross’s often controversial theories about death and dying, he is impressed by her achievements.

“For me, it was clear that her biggest quality was her ability to take time for the patients,” he said.

“To be there on a very personal and direct level, not as a doctor asking technical questions, and not as a priest holding a bible and assuring them that Jesus would take care of everything. Just sitting there, listening and accepting that death happens.”

Haupt also confesses that his time with Kübler Ross has changed his own attitude to death.

“I think after being with her I started to talk more openly about the subject,” he said. “Even when my own children ask about death and dying… I’m now ready to talk to them honestly, and even laugh about it.”

swissinfo, Imogen Foulkes