How film and literature have influenced the acceptance of assisted suicide

Powerful stories of assisted dying are etched in our collective memory. Now, a groundbreaking research project from Switzerland is gathering artistic works on the subject from across the globe. But how much impact does this art form have on politics and society? The Sea Inside and The Intouchables stand out as two of the most impactful stories about tetraplegics from the past two decades. Both are inspired by true events, yet they could not be more different. The first is a melancholy, hypnotic film about a Spanish seaman who fights for the right to die after a diving accident. He finally ends his life with the help of friends. The second is a French buddy comedy about a carer who helps a wealthy businessman get a new lease on life after a paragliding accident. The Sea Inside, which won an Oscar for best foreign film, earned approximately $43 million (CHF39 million) at the box office. The Intouchables grossed nearly ten times that amount. While film audiences chose life, those ...