Ryan Bouman and Michael Janke | Capturing Grief on Film

In this final episode of Season 1, I was joined by Ryan Bouman and Michael Janke, two filmmakers out of Calgary. They recently released a powerful short-form documentary film on grief called We, The Bereaved. In this meditation on grief, their goal was to show solidarity for those who are grieving and permission for those who felt they were never allowed.

From the beginning of our conversation, Ryan and Michael demonstrated deep vulnerability. Both men shared their initial trepidation about taking on the awesome responsibility of telling other people’s grief story. They revealed how tackling this topic was a shift from their more commercial work and how it challenged them to think, act and structure the entire process in a new way.

Their approach to conveying the stories of the 10 individuals they captured on film was a beautiful example of what ideal grief support looks like. They showed up, they let go of any direction or sense of authority, and they just listened.

The impact of their choices for the film were profound. You can feel how much the bereaved felt safe and supported to share both their experiences and the wisdom they’ve gained on their journeys. The outcome for these filmmakers has been a deeper confidence in showing up for themselves and others in their grief journey.

About the show

If you love deep, honest, authentic conversations, get ready to love Grief is a Sneaky Bitch. Host Lisa Keefauver, is a grief and empathy activist who holds an extensive grief resume herself, as a social worker, narrative therapist, grief guide, and widow. From CEOs and social workers to best-selling authors, educators, filmmakers, and stay-at-home moms, her guests open up about the complexity, confusion, and even confidence they have gained by navigating a grief journey of their own. To learn more about the show and how Lisa Keefauver is reimagining grief, sign up for her not-so-regular newsletter, follow on Instagram and Twitter or visit www.lisakeefauver.com today!

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