Funeral Film Movie Night Debuts with Get Low

Jun 12, 2013 | 0 comments

Get Low coverSeventy-five years ago this month, Felix “Bush” Brezeale made history as the first person to hold his funeral while he was still alive. Between eight to 12 thousand people turned out in rural Tennessee to witness the event, which took place on June 26, 1938.

The true story, with some fictional dramatic twists, was told in the 2010 film Get Low, starring Robert Duvall, Bill Murray and Sissy Spacek. With comedy and drama, Get Low illustrates the many aspects of planning a funeral party, the party no one wants to plan.

A free screening of Get Low inaugurates the first Movie Night hosted by FRENCH Funerals and Cremations. Gail Rubin, award-winning speaker and author of A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, will facilitate a discussion following the film about issues raised by the movie.

The event takes place Thursday, July 11 at 5:00 p.m. at FRENCH Funerals-Cremations & Rio Rancho Event Center at 1950 Pine Road NE, Rio Rancho NM. Popcorn and refreshments will be served.

The idea for a movie night and discussion emerged from the most recent Death Café event Gail Rubin hosted in May. The Death Café is a free gathering where people come together in a relaxed confidential and safe setting to discuss mortality, drink tea and eat delicious cake or cookies. The objective is “To increase awareness of death with a view toward helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.”

“This groundbreaking outreach event shows you can come to a funeral home and not be sad,” said Barbara Stewart, Community Liaison for FRENCH Funerals-Cremations. “We’re very excited to launch Movie Night at our locations with reception centers and look forward to hosting other films and discussions with Gail Rubin.”

FRENCH Funerals-Cremations is one of Albuquerque’s and Rio Rancho’s few remaining locally and family owned funeral service providers. The company sponsored Rubin’s television interview series A Good Goodbye. The program can currently be viewed on Albuquerque’s Comcast Cable public access channels 26 and 27.

Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®, is a Certified Celebrant, author, and TV/radio host who uses humor and funny film and TV clips to help start funeral planning conversations.

Read the true story behind Get Low on The Family Plot Blog: http://thefamilyplot.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/get-low-real-story/

Here’s a movie trailer for Get Low:

Get Low | Theatrical Trailer (2009)
A Good Goodbye