IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

Some months ago my friends Tony Jacobs and Gerrit Van Caekenberghe asked me to play a supporting role in their film "The Hit". I accepted. I am a very bad actor, but I didn't have to say anything in the film. It's the story of a very ambitious politician. He is a member of the Belgian National Front. That party is against homosexuals. The politician asked his son to join his party and to do many things. His son, however, was a homosexual ... His father was very embarrassed and furious when he knew that his son was homosexual.

Last week the father died. Not in the film. He really passed away. He suffered from cancer and asked Tony and Gerrit to hurry. As soon as the film was finished he asked to die by carrying out euthanasia. It's legal in Belgium. I knew that man. He also played a role in "Faitthfully Yours", a film about Charles Dickens. It was made by Tony and me some years ago. It achieved silver plus at BIAFF. Now I feel very sad. He was relatively young. He was in his fifties. Last weekend Tony and Gerrit won the regional competition with their film "The Hit". Their main actor had already passed away.

Some sad news there Willy. I feel for you. It's sad that a man died in his fifties, whilst in many ways fit and active. The saddest part is that he chose to die. Was his suffering so severe that he couldn't bear another day of life? It shouldn't have been. Pain killers today are the best they've been, and there are palliative care professionals who could have helped him with his condition. But unfortunately his choice was to go for assisted suicide. At least we know your friend isn't suffering anymore.

I'm sorry Willy but I suppose it's the circle of life. One soul leaves and another little soul is born - the newborn should bring great happiness. Let's hope so.

billyfromConsett wrote:Some sad news there Willy. I feel for you. It's sad that a man died in his fifties, whilst in many ways fit and active.
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Thanks for your expressing your feelings, Billy.

In the film our friend had to give a speech in a festivity hall. Some members of my club were among the audience. I was was one of the only ones who knew that he was suffering from cancer. After the shootings his wife hugged him tightly to her. I knew why ... An intimite moment that I will never forget.

I also forgot to tell you that when filming a scene at the "headquarters" of the National Front Party our friend collapsed. I was there. In the film I was one of the so-called members. I thought : it's because of his disease. However, it was also hot in there.

Tony, Gerrit and some friends took him away. Half an hour later he came back and the shootings could go on. Afterwards I met him in the dressing-room. He was the only one there and he just said "Hello, Willy !". That was the last moment I saw him. Gerrit told me that he wanted to die because he was suffering too much. He could not accept the very bad quality of life at the end. It was almost "nihil"... I think that we must be in such condition ourselves to understand the decision he has taken.

The film "The Hit" will be shown in Clervaux (Luxemburg) in the month of May. It has French subtitles, but I will ask Tony and Gerrit (who's my clubmate) to have it subtitled in English. So, probably it will be a new film for BIAFF next year. Because of its theme (homosexuals and extreme right) it is a controversial film. A film to talk about, but also to think about a fantastic man who has passed away.