DANCES WITH FILMS 2023 REVIEW! To tackle the subject of grief is an enormous undertaking, and because humans are who they are, grief is different for every individual. In the documentary, Meet Me Where I Am, director/writer Grant Garry dives into suffering from a multifaceted perspective offering a deeper understanding of why we grieve, how it manifests, and how we cope.
Participants in this film, of mostly talking heads, include Anthony Rapp (RENT, Star Trek: Discovery), David Kessler (author of Finding Meaning and ABC’s Good Morning America contributor), Ron Marasco, Ph.D. (author of About Grief: Insights, Setbacks, Grace Notes, Taboos), and Dr. Donna Schurmaan (Senior Director of Advocacy & Training at The Dougy Center) among several others, whom all describe the many ways grief exists mainly from the loss of a loved one.
Each individual in Meet Me Where I Am shares their story of loss, love, and hope, and throughout the film, provides an understanding of how grief needs acceptance so healing can happen. Normalizing the grief process in the world in which we live is a step toward understanding how this emotional state of being can be handled.
Throughout Meet Me Where I Am, individuals have points of discussion about grief, including how you might define grief and how one cope with grief, such as wanting to run away, feeling on edge, being unable to speak or think properly, sleeping away the feeling of pain, or panic attacks. In describing grief’s impact or existence—messy, rugged, raw, unpredictable, not one size fits all—everyone experiences grief’s hurt and pain.
“…all describe the many ways grief exists mainly from the loss of a loved one.”
At one point, grief is described as a love that has no place, and once experienced, it profoundly changes an individual. However, how one handles grief is an individual situation, and Meet Me Where I Am points out that perhaps our society takes it poorly.
Garry brings up certain blanket statements such as “my condolences” and “sorry for your loss” is what we are taught to have good intentions forcing empathy, but the impact is not so much because we can’t fix death. We are disconnected from the experience as a society, and there’s no quick fix.
To give context and meaning and offer some resolve, Meet Me Where I Am offers ideas on how some assistance in holding space and being present for grieving people is good. Learning to engage is helpful to grief. To ask and talk about grief makes a difference, and it will help an individual get through the five stages—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Meet Me Where I Am is an intriguing documentary about a challenging subject that will be part of every individual’s life at some point, and the steps or actions taken by those in the film help. Aptly titled, Meet Me Where I Am hits the target for its purpose.
Meet Me Where I Am screened at the 2023 Dances With Films.