My last summer.

Date:
2014
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About this work

Description

The group's illnesses are progressing and putting affairs in order becomes more pressing. Junior is in near-constant pain, making him more reliant on Sonja than ever. He states at the beginning of the programme that should he die during filming, he wishes for his funeral to be recorded. The group have been invited to spend the weekend as they wish, and Lou and John have brought their children along. Lou’s son Danny, 15, is now her main carer, taking two days a week off school to look after his mum and sisters. Andy has also brought along his family for the first day, including 20 year old Jordan, his son from a previous relationship. He describes how his father’s illness has affected him. Unlike the other parents, Junior has not been able to arrange for any of his children to accompany him to the residential. Lou was brought up by her adoptive grandparents. She discusses the loss of her brother, which she feels has helped her prepare for her own death. Palliative Psychotherapist Ann Munro discusses when to tell a child that a parent is dying. Children who are told nothing, she claims, are left feeling isolated and angry. She advocates providing age-appropriate information at each stage, a technique adopted by Lou. Andy and Annette, in contrast, have not told four year old Isabel that her father is dying. Jayne has a severely mentally disabled daughter, Angharad, who is 18. She has put a legal trust in place for her daughter but admits her fear of leaving her in the hands of unknown carers. Ben has begun to put his affairs in order by labelling his possessions with the names of those he wishes to leave them to. Junior's health has taken a turn for the worse but he's determined to live until his 49th birthday and realise his ambition to get married. He has begun composing personal messages for each of his children. Meanwhile, Jayne continues the search for the son she gave up for adoption. She learns that he has been located and is open to receiving contact, but decides not to reveal her illness at this stage. Although aware he is nearing the end, Junior is still able to joke and, remarkably, attend his birthday party at a local club, even taking to the decks to play a set. Days later, his health reaches crisis point and he finally marries Sonja just hours before his death. Scenes from his funeral are shown in accordance with his wishes.

Publication/Creation

UK : Channel 4, 2014.

Physical description

1 DVD (47 min.) : sound, color, PAL

Copyright note

Love Productions 2014

Notes

Broadcast on 18 June 2014.

Creator/production credits

Produced and directed by Phil Turner and Kevin Jarvis: Love Productions for Channel 4

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

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    5322D

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