As medically assisted dying becomes increasingly accessible around the world, our understanding of the final stages of life is changing. In this remarkable new documentary, director Sophie Deraspe (SHEPHERDS, CIFF 2024; THE AMINA PROFILE, CIFF 2015) strikes an extraordinary balance between the philosophical questions and practical realities of choosing how and when we die.

The Final Act is an immersive sensory film exploring fear, belief, and the search for meaning and connection in the face of death. Through the farewells of Stéphane’s loved ones, André’s jokes about Sudoku puzzles at the end of life, or Céline’s embrace to soothe her son’s grief; renowned filmmaker Sophie Deraspe immerses herself in the protagonists’ private lives, capturing snapshots of great vitality. As the final breath approaches, it is above all love and life in all its complexity that reveal themselves on screen.