One of the interesting stories of 2023 in the Death Care business was the release of a full-length Hollywood production of the movie “The Burial” released in October by Amazon Studios.  It was a story in Death Care simply because it is not every day that you see our profession covered in this way by the big Hollywood studios with big-name actors like Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones cast in starring roles.

 

Based on actual events, the movie reviews seem to be very good.  As a matter of fact, if you look at the Google Audience Rating summary you will find a composite review of 4.7 out of a possible 5.  One reviewer says this, “‘The Burial’ is an iconic movie that should be recognized as one of the most outstanding biographical films of this year.”

 

I was always interested in this movie because I had met some of the characters portrayed in the film.  Raymond Loewen (played by Bill Camp in the film), of the Loewen Company, had invited me to Dent Island, British Columbia for a couple of days of salmon fishing which turned into a fairly hard-charged attempt to purchase our funeral home.

 

That was 32-years ago and one of the people on that trip with me was Mr. John Yopp III, editor and publisher of Southern Funeral Director Magazine.  John and I have stayed in touch over the years and John notified me that in their October edition Southern Funeral Director Magazine published a featured article entitled “O’Keefe vs. The Loewen Group” that happened to be authored by another friend of mine, Joe Weigel.

 

In any regard, Joe Weigel interviewed people including Jeffrey O’Keefe, Sr., the son of the funeral home owner portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones, to get his take on the factual reliability of the movie.  It’s a great article and you will learn something from reading it. . . such as I learned that Harrison Ford had first been contacted to play the role of Jerry O’Keefe, but had recently broken his leg while filming the Indiana Jones “Dial of Destiny” movie.

 

I would suggest that you take a look at the October issue of Southern Funeral Director Magazine which you can find here.  Then, once you watch the movie, you can tell if Hollywood got it right . . . or not.

 

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Report recommends Harvard morgue improve oversight following body part scandal.  MassLive  (MA)
• AM Best upgrades credit ratings of American Memorial Life Insurance Company.  Business Wire
• LONITE’s Milestone expansion:  Introducing larger, more colorful memorial diamonds in Britain.  Technology Today
• Tobias Uhrig’s business dream comes true.  Fort Morgan Times (CO)
• Rowanoak Mortuary and Crematory website

 

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