POV Season 17 Episode 7 A Family Undertaking

In POV season 17 episode 7, titled "A Family Undertaking," viewers are taken on an emotional journey through the eyes of one family who choose to care for their own dead. The documentary reveals the story of the Goodwin family, who run a funeral home in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains. The Goodwins decided to start their own funeral home after having extensive personal experiences with death and realizing the disconnect that comes when death is treated like a business.

The Goodwin family believes that death is a natural part of life and with it comes a responsibility to care for their own loved ones. They offer their services to families who want to take care of their dead in traditional and personal ways- a stark contrast to modern funeral home arrangements. By choosing to keep death within the family circle, the Goodwins empower families to have more control over the end-of-life process, encouraging them to be active participants in it.

The documentary's focus is on the family's youngest daughter, Cassie, who wants to follow in her family's profession. At the start of the documentary, Cassie is eighteen and still in high school. She's in the process of obtaining her funeral-director's license, a rigorous program that requires extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Along with her schoolwork, Cassie performs the daily activities of the funeral home, from setting up visitations to arranging flowers.

As she works alongside her family and learns from them, Cassie's views start to conflict with those around her. Her best friend feels uncomfortable visiting the funeral home, and her Facebook status becomes a hot topic of discussion amongst her peers. All of this leads Cassie to question her choice of becoming a funeral director and pushes her to weigh the benefits of keeping this unique family tradition alive against the challenges and negative stigmas that come with it.

"A Family Undertaking" is filled with heartwarming moments and revealing insights. The raw emotions conveyed by the Goodwin family help guide the viewer through the complex process of grieving and offers a chance to learn about an alternative way of caring for the dead. The family's experiences can challenge the viewer's preconceived notions about death and reveal how death is something that can be both natural and beautiful, under the right circumstances. The documentary's presenter is sensitive to the topic, presenting the topic in a way that is respectful and informative.

Overall, viewers will leave the documentary with a better understanding of the Goodwin family's approach to death and what led them to choose a career in funeral work. The reflection between their experiences and our own thoughts about death can encourage viewers to ask themselves about what we can do to improve the preparation and care around our own loved ones passing. "A Family Undertaking" is a touching and informative exploration into life's most mysterious final moments.