Most outsiders react unfavourably to the Internet news group alt.suicide.holiday, or ASH, where (formerly) suicidal people post messages with reasons to commit suicide and ways to do it. Sometimes, someone does kill him- or herself after visiting the news group, but for many loyal visitors - or Ashers - the news group is conversely an important help to go on living. Filmmaker Walter Stokman placed an advert, to which four Ashers reacted. Stokman interviews them at home and on secluded restful locations and has them read out excerpts from messages from the news group. They talk about their suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts and about the role of the controversial news group; they particularly praise the candour of and acceptance by other visitors. By appearing in this documentary, they give the relatively anonymous Internet community a voice and a face.
Credits
Director
Producer
Camera
Set geluid
Montage
TV company
VPRO TV
Distributor NL
SND Films
Gouden Kalf winner
Beste Korte Documentaire (2002)
Walter Stokman
NFF Archive
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Stills
