The project Cross a River is a saying that originates from the mythological river, Sanzu no Kawa, in Japanese Buddhist tradition which is believed to be the boundary between life and death. The idea behind this project came from a personal side, as the topic of the boundary between life and death and afterlife had been a recurring theme within my family that had not been discussed formally and I had not found closure from. I explored various topics from Buddhism, Death festivals and funeral rites across cultures to societal change. The more I delved into the project, the more I felt like I was an outsider to it all. Visiting Aoyama was a key moment in which I realized that this is a journey that I will never come to a conclusion with. This became a main insight throughout the last half of the project forming parts of my final outcome.
The film is about the journey I went on about the boundary between life and death and the findings I discovered along the way through the theme of ‘Everything I know about Death’ which consisted of 6 different steps. Within the film, I wanted to highlight that the view on death has evolved, the ritualistic part of death, and that death is not an endpoint and it should be something that is celebrated. Otherwise, how are we meant to keep the legacy of our loved ones and ancestors?
I’ve also made a film companion which is a publication of the film and it is formatted like a headstone engraving and its size is meant to feel like an order of service.
should death be celebrated or mourned?