The Rosetta Collection

In recent years, we have made over 90 short films with hospice users. The Rosetta Collection is a portfolio of stories, songs, video-diaries, poems and documentaries that address every aspect of palliative care.

These high quality and engaging films are presented in a series of themed DVDs that can be used for training hospice staff and volunteers, for helping hospice users and their families, or for sheer enjoyment.

1. Rosetta Requiem

11 musical collaborations between hospice users and acclaimed musicians, including songs from Billy Bragg, Orlando Gough, Jarvis Cocker, Michael Nyman, Roots Manuva. Includes hit song "We Laughed".

2. After They've Gone

7 films about the loss of a partner.

• After They’ve Gone: two women talk about what life is like after their husbands have died. (8 mins)
• Dancing Shoes: Caroline revives her love of dancing after her partner has died. (2 mins)
• Housewive’s Choice: Joy talks about her mixed feelings after the death of her husband. (2mins) 
• Love Letters: Kay has kept all the love letters that her husband Brian sent her. Should she keep reading them now that he has died? (2 mins)
• Take 5: Bereaved spouses relive the journey of diagnosis, illness, care, death and bereavement. (12 mins)
• Terry & Evelyn: Terry revisits the loss of his wife Evelyn and reveals the classic stages of grief. (7 mins)
• The Fascinator: Fran talks about how she will deal with the absence of her deceased husband.  (2 mins)

3. Too Soon

5 films about loss for children and young people.

• Breaking the News: three teenagers and a child role play breaking the news of terminal illness as doctors, friends, family. (7 mins)
• Grandparent: Four young cousins talk about the loss of a grandparent. (10 mins)
• Freefall: Powerful drama devised with six teenagers who have lost a parent. (25 mins)
• The Making of Freefall: The six teenagers tell the story of the making of the film.  (15 mins)

4. Angels & Dragons

2 short dramas made with people with HIV-AIDS.                        

• An Imitation of Life: Drama. It’s the eve of the millennium. Garry Wall has survived the AIDS epidemic that has taken most of his friends.  As he dresses up for a drag ball, he agonises over whether he should be taking medication. (12 mins)
• Angels & Dragons: Drama. Marcus is shocked to discover that he is HIV+ and blames Thandi, his needle sharing partner.  Thandi dies of an overdose and Marcus is overwhelmed by remorse when it emerges that she was negative. (12 mins)
• To a Future with Love: HIV+ David warns against the new relaxation about unprotected sex that is emerging in the young clubbing gay community. (10 mins)           

5. You Need To Know

7 films about what matters when your life is threatened.

• Debbie and Les: A young mother (23 mins)
• We Laughed: Chart Billy Bragg song about the power of laughter.
• The Impossible Rose: David, who has Motor Neurone Disease, designs the rose of his dreams
• 32 Things…: This witty film pulls no punches about what we all need to know.
• 24 Things…: Humorous advice on what would really help!
• Collette x 2: Facing MS – with a droll sense of humour.

Buy the Rosetta Collection on DVD for £100.00. Each order includes three complimentary copies of 'We Laughed' on CD.

To order please email chris.rawlence@rosettalife.org or call 020 7520 8270.