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Along with his daughter Caitlin, director David Cronenberg ("The Fly", "Eastern Promises" and many others) presents a philosophical and surrealistic view of a man who faces and embraces mortality by viewing his own corpse on his deathbed. Or better saying how the artist imagines himself watching himself fading away into the undiscovered country of Shakespeare.

As I write about "The Death of David Cronenberg", the man himself is alive and well with an upcoming film to be released. But it's interesting to see this one-minute film about how he'd deal with his final moment of life, watching himself (a very realistic dummy was used) going to the unknown but...he's quite peaceful, tender, gently kissing his face and joining with the body in bed. It's almost as if he's bidding farewell to himself, the life and work is done, mission was accomplished in the earthly plan and now it's time to let go without regrets and feeling sorry for anything. Mr. Cronenberg admires the body, and with his minor expressions (and he's an amazing actor as well) we can sense all of his feelings which cannot be fully expressed with words. It's strange but positively beautiful.

What Cronenberg creates here echoes in our minds and he challenges viewers into questioning themselves about their own fate and eventual mortality. Will we be so loving and caring to our version of selves when dead or near death? How do we look deep into ourselves in our final time as a living being? Are we truly ready to face death, accept it or embrace it? This and lots of other questionings comes to mind despite the very limited short time used for the film.

But the idea presented linger in our heads for quite some time.

It's an artistic expression from Mr. Cronenberg, sensitive and poetic, with a little of the weirdness that are present in his masterpieces. I'd like to see a film of his dealing with such strong and difficult themes but as a feature. Maybe it'll happen when he's about to retire (if ever). Thumbs way up to this project. 9/10.

I believe this short is an expression of emotionality and curiosity, and as such probably shouldn't be analyzed to heavily. Parts of it being coming to terms with your own mortality, the other bit is attraction to and curiosity about death itself.

It did however make me think about some things. In a postmodern sense we have declared the death of the author. At the moment your work is in the world, it is no longer yours and you have no say over it. Artists deal with this in different ways. George Lucas continues to revise his works, and refuses to die as an author, and relinquish control. Ego grasping, in a way. Whereas Cronenberg makes a little piece about seeing yourself as dead, and exploring that state.

Regardless, it's a very powerful film.