Obit

2016 | USA | NR | 96 min.
  • Life Smartphone (????)

Showings

Bijou by the Bay Wed, Jul 27, 2016 9:00 AM
City Opera House Thu, Jul 28, 2016 3:00 PM
Old Town Playhouse Sun, Jul 31, 2016 12:00 PM
Film Info
Section:US Official Selection: Documentary
Movies for Smart People
Release Year:2016
Runtime:96 min.
Premiere Status:Michigan Premiere
Rating:NR
Production Country:USA
Original Language:English
Cast/Crew Info
Cast:Bruce Weber
William McDonald
Margalit Fox
William Grimes
Jack Kadden
Director:Vanessa Gould
Produced by:Caitlin Mae Burke
Vanessa Gould
Cinematography:Ben Wolf
Editing By:Kristin Bye

Description

Whose obituary would you read first: the leader of the Soviet Union, or the inventor of the Slinky? Questions like this are part of the daily routine for the writers and editors of The New York Times obituaries section, lovingly spotlighted in “Obit.” This deceptively lighthearted documentary takes us to the front lines of the world’s most lauded obituary section and explains, among other fascinating curiosities, how a word count is assigned to a human life, what happens when a public figure dies unexpectedly on a weekend, and which living celebrities have pre-written obituaries on file at the newspaper of record. Whether they’re writing about the bassist in Bill Haley’s Comets, JFK’s campaign advisor, or an infamous exotic dancer, the Times’ obituarists are revealed as archaeologists of the people who shaped our world. In Person: Director Vanessa Gould (Wed, Thu); New York Times Obit Desk Editor William McDonald (Wed, Thu).

Included Shorts

Life Smartphone (????) (3min) 2015 | China | 3 min. More