Part 1 introduces the viewer to death by exploring the various ways different cultures deal with its presence. The video highlights the notion that we all must die one day, therefore how do we deal with the inevitable. The video characterizes death as a journey of happiness, sadness, fear, and promise. Death is a final frontier that we yearn to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding about by exploring its various elements. By acknowledging death and its presence people can begin to rid themselves of the element of fear, which is so closely associated with dying. .
The documentary film first explores the city of Kashi, India also known as "the forest of bliss" or "the city of light". The Hindu people come to Kashi to make a connection with their religion and honor Shiva by washing away their sins in the Ganges River and also to pray. They can also come to the Ganges River to die, as they feel that it is a holy cemetery. The dead can be cremated and then their ashes disbursed into the Ganges River, or the can be wrapped in cloth and then set free into the river. On the way to the river their loved ones carry the deceased and as they pass through the busy streets, the dead are honored by all of the surrounding people. One key element that I realized from this visible scene was the fact that death is not hidden or disguised but is an element of life that is present in their culture. It is normal for them to see people carrying a wrapped body through the busy streets.
Death is also celebrated in Mexican culture, where the film examines how Mexicans celebrate "the day of the dead" and then later on "the night of the dead". They honor this daylong event by inviting their dead ancestors to spiritually come and celebrate with current generations. They also make toys and figurines in honor of the dead. They welcome the spirits of the dead by presenting food alters in their honor, these altars usually consist of their ancestor's favorite foods.
