14 years after Evelyn’s suicide his family walk across the UK and try, for the first time, to talk about him again.
The Story
EVELYN documents the story of a family overcoming the unthinkable. On a walking odyssey across the United Kingdom, they confront a past they’ve been unable to talk about, whilst simultaneously repairing the fractures in their own relationships.
Director Orlando von Einsiedel turns the cameras on himself, as he, his parents and siblings embark on a journey in remembrance of their brother and son, Evelyn, who took his own life over a decade ago.
They are faced with the realities of a walking mission - camping, exhaustion, the wet and cold. Yet despite these, and the challenges that come with remembering what happened to Evelyn, there are moments of happiness and humour as they recall the good memories that they buried alongside the painful ones.
Part quest, part road-trip, part memoir, EVELYN seeks to address the past, in order to find some peace in the present, and look to the future.
A Grain Media and Violet Films production.
Phenomenal. Life-changing
The Evening Standard
Impact work
Led by Violet Films, an impact campaign about reducing stigma around mental health and encouraging people to talk, and look out for, one another, has been launched. cinema screenings across the UK have been followed with Q+As featuring the filmmakers, the film's characters and experts from the film's charity partners - CALM, The Samaritans, The Ramblers, Andy's Man Club and Shout. Alongside many of the screenings, audiences have been invited to take a walk immediately after the Q+A. The walks have encouraged further conversations and allowed people the space to open up with their own stories of grief, mental illness and suicide. This Radio 4 report from journalist Paul Moss about the walks captures their essence:
https://soundcloud.com/user-503080766/evelyn-walking-and-talking-about-suicide?fbclid=IwAR2-Ynjg4xF6TVbpZz1tOMIT9Sb1Y4TMrSh7RXkufnCL7p2_8-xSIP7jVpQ.
Best Documentary, British Independent Film Awards 2018 Winner
Anti-Stigma Award Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Winner
Official Selection BFI London Film Festival