‘I look at the footage to convince myself that you were alive’: how Ross McElwee made a film about unimaginable loss, grief and guilt

Written and edited by the WorldPing NewsdeskPublished Updated Original reporting: The Guardian
‘I look at the footage to convince myself that you were alive’: how Ross McElwee made a film about unimaginable loss, grief and guiltWorldPing
Image via The Guardian.

What happened

When his son died aged 27, the director could barely bring himself to watch his old clips of the boy.

Key facts

  • When his son died aged 27, the director could barely bring himself to watch his old clips of the boy.
  • Reported by The Guardian and published Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:00:13 UTC.

Why it matters

Release schedules, box office and industry deals show where audience attention and studio money are moving next.

What to watch next

  • Confirmed release or premiere dates
  • Opening figures and audience reception
  • Follow-on deals or casting announcements

Coverage timeline

When each newsroom published on this story, oldest first — all times UTC.

  1. ‘I look at the footage to convince myself that you were alive’: how Ross McElwee made a film about unimaginable loss, grief and guilt

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Sources

The original report was published by The Guardian. WorldPing does not claim that reporting — this page summarises and contextualises it.

Read the full report at The Guardian

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