You may be aware that a movie inspired by the lawsuit filed by Mississippi funeral director Jeremiah O’Keefe against the Loewen Group in the mid-1990s is slated to come out in theaters October 6 and Amazon Prime Video on October 13. The trailer can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOhIdaufd3Q.
It’s difficult to know how this real story will translate to the movie screen. As is often the case when films are “inspired by true events,” the truth can be distorted, important details can be left out and facts can be made up to make a movie more interesting to audiences.
If you are able, we encourage you to watch this film because it could prompt people in your community to ask for your reaction or to pose questions about issues raised in the film, particularly about funeral home ownership, race and pricing – all of which were issues raised during the real trial.
After NFDA leaders have had an opportunity to view the film, we can share additional information that may be helpful as you respond to questions from your community. In the meantime, the following NFDA media statement may be useful in guiding your response.
A movie inspired by the lawsuit filed by Mississippi funeral director Jeremiah O’Keefe against the Loewen Group in the mid-1990s is slated to come out in theaters October 6 and Amazon Prime Video on October 13. The trailer can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOhIdaufd3Q.
It’s difficult to know how this real story will be translated to the movie screen. As is often the case when films are “inspired by true events,” the truth can be distorted, important details can be left out and facts can be made up to make a movie more interesting to audiences.
What is important to remember is that tens of thousands of funeral directors work around the clock every single day to help families take the first steps toward healing following the death of a loved one. With care and compassion, they help families create meaningful funeral and memorial services that reflect their loved one’s personal values, interests and experiences.
Consumers shouldn’t be afraid to “shop around” for a funeral home who will meet their needs. Doing so in advance, when they are not grieving a death that just occurred, enables families to make thoughtful, fully-informed decisions. Families should look for a funeral home that has a strong reputation with licensed funeral directors who understand all of their needs and concerns.
Members of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), who pledge to adhere to an enforced Code of Professional Conduct as a condition of membership, are a good place to begin a search. Visit NFDA’s consumer education website, www.RememberingALife.com, and use the Find a Funeral Home search tool to connect with a local NFDA-member firm today.