Phantom Limb (Jay Rosenblatt, 2005) - 8: Advice

"Know that you will survive." "Know that you are not alone," a woman's gentle voice encourages us over the sad, cradling rhythm of Arvo Pärt's violin composition Silentium. While her voice helps grieving parents cope with the death of their child, Rosenblatt's camera is focused on a sheep shearer in a darkish barn. The man in blue work pants holds the sheep between his legs. He moves the comb-shaped electric shears over the body of the sheep. The man works steadily and methodically, adjusting and positioning the body of the sheep as he goes. Flocks and mats of wool fall away. "Keep in mind that grief does not proceed in orderly predictable stages." "Be prepared for the enormous effort it will take to have a normal, mundane conversation." "Cry." Inexorably, the naked, whitish-pink skin of the sheep is revealed. "Prepare to answer the question: How many children do you have?" Sometimes the shears go over an already stripped area of the sheep's body and cut even closer to the skin. "Go easy on people who say stupid things such as: At least you had her as long as you did. You can always have another child. You'll grow so much stronger through this. I know how you feel. It's God's will." The sheep quietly rests against the man. He is masterful in his work. His hand sometimes passes over the animal's head with something like tenderness. "Don't expect the pain to ever fully go away." The sheep trusts his every movement, like a child.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Phantom Limb
• Jay Rosenblatt
• Arvo Pärt
• Tabula Rasa
• Silentium - Senza Moto

[Esperanca91]

Does anyone know where or how could I watch the whole film? I am really really interested and curious... :)

[untitledesigner]

@Esperanca91 I bought my copy directly through Jay Rosenblatt. Try to contact him on jayrosenblattfilms . com

[untitledesigner]

I totally agree with you Cathnova, it reaches the sublime.

[paulapafi]

God prevent this from happening, it's too much painful...

[baruchvahitov]

This movie helped me to deal with my family tragedy. Thank you for the upload.

“For I have learned to look on nature, not as in the hour of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes the still, sad music of humanity"

[Cathnova]

but the scene does very well 'on its own'

yet to me the layering is just too interesting not to have a look at it :-)

[Cathnova]

'Agnus Deï'. ' a close shave'. Or out of experience grief stripping down to vulnerability, but also to the bare essentials. With nothing left to do (or able to) than to surrender to something bigger and trust it.

But also we ourselves are the sheep-farmer. Our responsibility as a human, in this life, to 'unclutter' , to undo ourselves from the wool of conditioning: childhood, conflictive patterns, status, society etc. and doing so with the most care. goal-oriented but tender, and trustworthy.

[Cathnova]

Thank you for posting this online. It is so touching, if I haven't seen it a while it makes me cry every time. The most beautiful composition of music, voice and film I have seen untill today.