Library of Dust
17 minutes /
All ages /
2011 /
United States of America /
Average:
A documentary about the copper urns containing the cremated remains of unclaimed psychiatric patients from the Oregon State Mental Hospital.
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Ondi Timoner
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Thousands of corroded copper urns containing the cremated remains of unclaimed psychiatric patients are discovered in 2004. A tour of the Oregon State Hospital involving the local press and a State Senator was conducted to uncover the deplorable conditions of the hospital. What they didn’t expect to find was a storeroom full of human ashes dating back to the late 1800′s. Photos are taken of the mysterious corrosive effect on the canisters and several histories of these forgotten souls are revealed in this unique tale.
Crew
Cinematographer: Peter SimoniteMusic: Jonathan Beard
Camera Operator: Casandra Cohn
Camera Operator: Adam Dubrowa
Colorist: Paul Nordin
Sound Mixer: Dan Olmsted
Sound Recorder: Patrick Williams
Music: Sherri Chung
Editor: Kyle Parker
Editor: James Leche
Seattle International Film Festival -- Best Short Documentary (Nominated)
Taos Shortz Film Festival -- Best Documentary (Nominated)
Miami International Short Film Festival -- Best Documentary (Nominated)
Ashland Independent Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival
SXSW Film Festival
Napa-Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival -- Special Jury Award (Nominated)
Mill Valley Film Festival
Heartland Film Festival
Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films
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6 days, 18 hours ago
Outstanding! Very thought-provoking
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2 weeks, 1 day ago
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2 weeks, 2 days ago
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3 weeks, 1 day ago
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4 weeks ago
Amazing short Thank you rescuing these lost souls and telling their stories!
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4 weeks, 1 day ago
5 star
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1 month ago
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1 month ago
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1 month, 1 week ago
Really well done doc.
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1 month, 2 weeks ago
A lesson should be learned here: take care of your family. Don't throw them away if something is wrong with them. Also why don't they just bury them in a cemetery, in a group grave with their names on a plaque? It is a miracle they got 5%-10% claimed from deaths 60yrs+ ago. Many of them are that old, even dating to the 1800s.
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1 month, 3 weeks ago
My only complaint is that I wish this film went deeper. I'd love to hear more stories and learn of additional reunions.
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1 month, 3 weeks ago
Touched feeling, but not sentimentality. Quite a fete.
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2 months, 2 weeks ago
Great little film. Expected it to be sad and a bit depressing but its actually probably the only somewhat "feel-good" story related to mental health institutions that I've come across.
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2 months, 2 weeks ago
Haunting and touching...the idea that each canister is revealing the unique individual it holds, and the ultimately great outcome for the state mental health hospital in Oregon that the discovery of the canisters initiated.
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2 months, 3 weeks ago
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3 months ago
another window on those who suffer in the shadows of our society....heartbreaking
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3 months, 3 weeks ago
Beautifully done. Thank God for the people in this film who investigated and spearheaded this recovery project.
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4 months, 3 weeks ago
The subject was well worth the effort to film.
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5 months, 3 weeks ago
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6 months, 2 weeks ago
A haunting beautiful look at the cracks that still exist in our modern and 'enlightened' society.
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6 months, 3 weeks ago
A modern daguerreotype in vivid color.
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6 months, 3 weeks ago
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6 months, 3 weeks ago
This is an eerie and captivating documentary. Not only a true horror story, but also an indictment of mental health care in the United States. Must see.