New Film : The Burial
Update: New Film, The Burial
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 came out in limited release to movie theaters on October 6 and on Amazon Prime Video on October 13. The trailer can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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.
This film boils down to a David vs. Goliath battle between independent funeral homes and corporate-owned firms. The film paints a very negative picture of corporate-owned funeral homes, while independently-owned firms received much better treatment.
If you are able, we encourage you to watch this film to judge it for yourself. You should also watch it because it could prompt people in your community to ask for your reaction or pose questions about issues raised in the film, particularly about corporate vs. independent funeral home ownership structures; race and class; and pricing – all of which were issues raised during the real trial.
NFDA has prepared a statement that reminds consumers that there are tens of thousands of caring, compassionate funeral directors who serve families throughout the country. Indeed, caring professionals can be found at both independent and corporate owned firms. The statement encourages families to do their homework and “shop around” to find the funeral home that will best meet their needs. You are invited to share this statement with your local media or consumers if you are asked and feel it’s appropriate to do so.
