Goodnight Friend

Goodnight Friend

2018, 10 minutes

Documentary about pet loss

We call them four-legged friends, but for many they are family. When a beloved pet dies, life can seem incomplete. Worse still are the feelings of guilt that owners can if they have taken the difficult decision to have their pet ‘put to sleep’. For some, these feelings are too much to deal with on their own and they must seek support from those who have also felt this pain. Goodnight Friend is an emotional story of the bond between human and animal that even death cannot break. In a series of touching scenes, bereaved owners share their stories of love and loss. We learn about the pets with which they have shared their lives and hear their frank accounts of the effect their deaths have had on them. Alongside these tales of friendship, we are guided through the practical, ethical and philosophical questions surrounding pet euthanasia by Robin, a charismatic vet from Lancashire. He has seen so many crumble in his surgery when faced with losing their pets. We are also introduced to the work of Emma and Jackie from Blue Cross, who dedicate their time to helping others heal and feel ready to love another animal. They are there for grieving owners when those around do not understand and society demands that they simply ‘pull themselves together’. Goodnight Friend asks how we can ever know the right time to say ‘goodnight’ to our faithful friends, but above all, offers a message of hope and celebrates this special relationship.


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Gareth Foy
Composer
Composer