The world premiere of the Indian documentary “A Fly on the Wall,” directed by Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose, is scheduled to take place in the Wide Angle Documentary competition at the Busan International Film Festival, with a teaser recently released.
This documentary chronicles the final days of Chika Kapadia, who, with just four months to live, has opted for physician-assisted suicide at Dignitas in Switzerland. The filmmakers not only capture his poignant journey but also their own emotional responses throughout this deeply personal experience.
This marks the third collaboration between Maniyar and Bose showcased at Busan, following their previous works, “The Sky Is Pink” and “Margarita with a Straw.”
Bose recounts the film’s inception: “We didn’t choose this project; it was a dying wish that we felt compelled to fulfill. Chika, my friend for 25 years, approached Nilesh and me with a heartfelt mission: to illustrate how peaceful physician-assisted suicide can be, aiming to alleviate the fear surrounding it.
He was determined to make his intimate journey public, believing it vital to initiate this dialogue. During the tumultuous two weeks before his passing in Zurich, I found myself coping and largely following Nilesh’s direction regarding the film.”
Maniyar reflects, “My initial thought was how one can pursue physician-assisted suicide without yearning for even a moment more of life. Yet, I recognized Chika’s certainty about wanting to avoid being confined to tubes and wires at the end.
What started as Chika’s personal journey transformed into a collective mission for all three of us—Chika, Shonali, and me. It raised the question of the filmmaker’s role as a friend. When I asked Shonali to direct the camera toward herself, I understood my reasons, though the outcome was uncertain.”
Through this film, the directors aim to initiate discussions on end-of-life choices and the concept of dying with dignity. Maniyar expresses, “I hope this documentary prompts viewers to contemplate the right to die with dignity. Chika firmly believed that this option should be accessible and affordable for everyone, not just for those who can travel to countries like Switzerland.
We aspire for the film to ignite conversations that help destigmatize physician-assisted suicide and examine the ethical and human rights aspects of denying individuals control over their end-of-life decisions.”
Bose highlights the film’s broader theme: “At its core, this project seeks to dispel the fear surrounding death and frame it as an integral part of life—an experience that can be peaceful and dignified. We hope to encourage viewers to ponder these issues and recognize the humanity involved.”