Everyone here at IDLM has had the experience of telling someone they are a death doula and being met with the question, “What’s that?”
We perform a necessary function, serving people in ways that have been essential for thousands of years—but at the same time, the changes in deathways across the twentieth century and the shifts in ways that the material reality of death is handled have meant that the work we think of as “death doula work” is unfamiliar to most people. Death goes back to the beginning of time, but death doulas seem like a new phenomenon.
Part of our work is spreading the word about what we are doing, letting people know that we can help, that we’re available, that we exist.
As part of this essential process, a team of young filmmakers got together just last year (2024) and filmed a documentary entitled Through the Eyes of a Death Doula. Their mission was and is to explore the way our culture looks at death, and the people who guide others through the process. From their website:
Through the Eyes of a Death Doula is a documentary that explores the role of end-of-life doulas, also known as death doulas. These are people who help guide and support those who are in the process of dying, as well as their families and care circles. They focus on providing the necessary holistic care for those in their end-of-life journeys by being advocates for a patient’s autonomy to choose.
We strive to foster understanding on what death doulas do, the challenges they face, and the emotional tolls and rewards of their work. By sharing these diverse perspectives, we hope to normalize discussions about death, grief, and loss, as well as educate those who are entering this space.
This film aims to raise awareness and empower people to take control of their own end-of-life choices. It’s a call to re-think how society perceives death on a national and global scale. By de-stigmatizing conversations around death and dying, we can provide the necessary resources that will equip individuals with tools to navigate grief when the time comes.
Death is never easy to discuss; it is a particularly sensitive and challenging topic. We as filmmakers are committed to honoring these stories with care and accurately depicting them through the lens of authentic representation.
The team that created Through the Eyes of a Death Doula plans to continue this exploration through working directly with doulas in Bend, Oregon, and by partnering with the International Doula Life Movement (that’s us!) in order to capture what goes into the work we do and to share it with a wider audience. We are thrilled to announce that some of the team will be joining us for a discussion as part of our 2025 Summer Summit, which means you will be able to meet them and learn more, and ask any particular questions you might have about their project.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to connect with some very talented people sharing an important story that directly touches us all. So make sure to reserve your spot for Summer Summit so you can be part of the conversation!
