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MADEMOISELLE AND THE DOCTOR 1 STUDYGUIDE ISSUE 36 ISSUE SCREEN EDUCATION SCREEN MONICA BYRNE / KATY MARRINER MADEMOISELLE INTRODUCTION This study guide to accompany Mademoiselle and the Doctor, a documentary by iKandy Films, has been written for senior secondary students. It provides information and sugges- tions for learning activities in SOSE/HSIE, Legal Studies, English and Religious Education. > This study guide is for the fifty-five minute version of the documentary, rated M, and is suit- able for viewing by senior secondary students. A ninety-two minute version of Mademoiselle and the Doctor, rated MA, has recently screened at cinemas. > For some students in the class, viewing a documentary about the decision to terminate one’s own life may be con- fronting. Teachers need to respect the personal circumstances of these students and remain aware of their sensitivities. About the Filmmaker About the Documentary Mademoiselle Lisette Nigot Janine Hosking – Director/ Mademoiselle and the Doctor is a Lisette Nigot was born in France in Producer powerful and provocative documen- 1922. Raised by her grandparents, she tary because of its portrayal of the attended the Sorbonne and, after the Janine Hosking is a journalist and ethical and moral arguments raised by war, won a scholarship to the Universi- filmmaker. She has worked as a the euthanasia debate. Mademoiselle ty of Chicago. Later she worked in the reporter,producer and director on and the Doctor began as an explora- publicity department of the Waldorf many well-known Australian televi- tion of Dr Philip Nitschke’s involve- Astoria Hotel. Nigot moved to Perth in sion programs, including the ABC’s ment with Exit International; Janine 1967 in a quest for a quieter life and Australian Story. In 1998 she won Hosking was keen to learn more about began teaching French grammar at the Australia’s prestigious Walkley Award the elderly people, some healthy and University of Western Australia. Nigot’s for journalism for her documentary others terminally ill, who want to pre- life was one of adventure and joy. ISSUE 36 ISSUE 36 about a young burns victim. Hosking pare themselves for death. Over time, Lisette Nigot did not want to reach the produced and directed the award-win- the documentary became the story of age of eighty. She was not ill. She was ning feature length documentary My Lisette Nigot’s decision to end her life not depressed. She was determined to SCREEN EDU SCREEN EDU Khmer Heart. Mademoiselle and the before she turned eighty. The docu- end her life. In 2000, Nigot joined Exit Doctor is Hosking’s second feature mentary explores people’s right to Australia and attended a workshop in C C length documentary. It has screened assisted suicide, whether or not they Perth. Nigot allowed Janine Hosking ATION ATION to critical acclaim at both Australian have a terminal illness. Mademoiselle to commence filming three weeks be- and international film festivals. and the Doctor offers an insight into fore her suicide and Mademoiselle and Nigot’s actions, documenting her deci- the Doctor is her public statement on 2 sion and the involvement of Nitschke. her decision to commit suicide. Nigot 3 AND THE DOCTOR took her own life a month before her • Who is Dr Philip Nitschke? this documentary? eightieth birthday. Her suicide became • What makes a life worth living? • How has your understanding of front page news and many editorials • What thoughts, emotions and im- the issues facing the terminally ill condemned her actions, portraying her ages do you associate with death? and elderly changed after watching as vulnerable and depressed. Nigot’s How does our society deal with Mademoiselle and the Doctor? final statement offered her explanation death? • How can Lisette Nigot’s story for her decision, ‘I am terminating my • Should individuals have the right to influence our future? In a personal life now because I want to have con- terminate their lives if they believe sense? As a society? trol over my death…I do not intend to there is no longer any quality of wait till it is too late to die with dignity, life? Close Analysis I am taking the matter into my own hands, hoping that circumstances may Key Terms Euthanasia change to make it easier for others’. Use dictionaries, your texts and the • Should individuals have the right to Dr Philip Nitschke Internet to record definitions and decide the time of their death? enhance your understanding of these • What laws associated with eutha- Dr Philip Nitschke is an Australian key concepts: nasia exist in Australia? In other doctor and advocate of euthanasia. countries? His work is celebrated by some and • Euthanasia • In Mademoiselle and the Doctor criticized by others. Since 1995, • Voluntary Euthanasia who supports euthanasia? Why? Nitschke’s focus has been voluntary • Slow Euthanasia Who are the opponents of eutha- euthanasia. He assisted with the • Suicide nasia? Why? Undertake further passage of Marshall Perron’s ‘Rights • Assisted suicide research and create a data chart of the Terminally Ill’ Act. Four of • Terminal illness that states the arguments for and Nitschke’s patients made use of the • Palliative care against euthanasia and names Territory’s ROTI Act prior to it be- • Exit International the supporters and opponents of ing overturned by the Andrews Bill. • Right to Life Australia euthanasia. Nitschke’s work primarily involves • Australian Medical Association • What does Mademoiselle and the campaigning for the euthanasia issue, • Rights of the Terminally Ill Act Doctor show to be our society’s researching new ways of controlling • The Andrews Bill understanding of euthanasia? death and dying, and working with • Co Gen Machine • After viewing Mademoiselle and terminally ill patients who wish to have the Doctor, what do you now un- the right to end their lives. Nitschke After viewing the derstand about euthanasia? has established Euthanasia Advisory documentary • What are some of the myths Clinics and Euthanasia Advisory Work- surrounding euthanasia? Who is shops in all Australian capitals. All clin- • After watching Mademoiselle and responsible for perpetuating these ics are free and funded by donations the Doctor, what are you left won- myths? Does the documentary to Exit International. Nitschke also dering? dispel any of these myths? directs the Exit Research Program that • What expectations did you bring • ‘At the current time in Australia investigates improved ways of obtain- to the documentary? Were any of assisting or helping someone ing a peaceful death. these expectations challenged? to die carries a sentence which • What parts of the story resonated ranges from fourteen years in Using Mademoiselle with you? New South Wales, to life impris- and the Doctor in the • Were you challenged by the story onment in Western Australia and classroom of the documentary? Why? Why Queensland.’Suicide is not a crime not? What scenes did you find but anyone found guilty of assist- Teachers may select from the following confronting? ing a person’s suicide can face activities to support students’ viewing • What are the central concerns of a jail term. How do individuals and close analysis of Mademoiselle the documentary? How do you in Mademoiselle and the Doctor ISSUE 36 ISSUE 36 and the Doctor. know? respond to this concern? What do • Whose point of view is established you think of their responses? and endorsed in Mademoiselle and • Consider the newspaper banners SCREEN EDU SCREEN EDU Before viewing the documentary the Doctor? and articles, television news re- • Who do you think the documentary ports and radio interviews included C C • What is euthanasia? Allow stu- is trying to communicate its mes- in Mademoiselle and the Doctor. ATION ATION dents to share their understanding sages to? How has the media portrayed the of euthanasia. • After watching Mademoiselle and decisions of those who have cho- • How does society view euthana- the Doctor, what comments would sen to end their own lives? What 4 sia? you make about the purpose of are the connotations of the lan- 5 shape your response to Nigot? know what else to be.’ shore? • Why do you think Lisette Nigot Describe Lisette Nigot’s tone as • What reactions to Lisette Nigot’s decided to tell her story? she discusses her death. What death are shown in the film? • What do we learn about Lisette does her manner reveal about her • Were there any alternatives for Nigot’s life? Why does the film- and her decision? How has Nigot Lisette Nigot? What alternatives to maker highlight the glamorous and prepared for her death? What mo- Nigot’s course of action does Dr libertine moments of Nigot’s life? ments in the documentary suggest Bernard Pearn-Rowe of the Aus- Did you enjoy Nigot’s recollections that her decision to die, before she tralian Medical Association (AMA) of her life? Do you get a sense of turns eighty, was well considered? offer? her values? • In Mademoiselle and the Doctor, • In reporting her suicide many • ‘Religion is stupid.’Lisette Nigot the filmmaker shows Lisette Nigot media commentators described was raised by her grandmother, with her pet bird and a bag of sun- Lisette Nigot as a ‘vulnerable and whom she describes as, ‘a truly flower seeds. Later, Nigot shows depressed spinster’. Is this how Christian woman…a devout Cath- how the bag can be used to suf- Mademoiselle and the Doctor olic’. Nigot is an atheist. Why did focate. This is a method she would portrays Nigot? Do you think Nigot she choose to become an atheist? prefer not to use, claiming it is ‘not is ‘fragile’ and ‘vulnerable’? • ‘I could have married a number a nice way to die’ even though • An editorial in the West Australian of times.’‘I couldn’t be very ‘according to Philip, a very good following Lisette Nigot’s suicide faithful.’What do these admis- way’.