Monday Night Movie: "Other Side" & Conversation with Connecticut Death Collective

Join us for a screening of the powerful documentary "Other Side," an intimate look into the life of one woman and her fight to die on her terms. Following the film, we will be joined by Kate Bagnati, End-of-Life Life Doula and member of Connecticut Death Collective for a thoughtful conversation about the film and its theme. 

About "Other Side"

Death is inevitable, suffering may be optional. 

After three separate cancer diagnoses, and undergoing nauseating and difficult treatment for each one, Connecticut-based activist Lynda Bluestein set her sights on medical aid in dying. This compassionate end-of-life option was not available in her home state, so she filed a lawsuit against the state of Vermont to gain access to their Death With Dignity law, Act 39 – and she won. 

A rich portrait of a fearless activist, matriarch, and fallible human, this feature documentary follows Lynda and her family over the course of a year as they navigate life and prepare for her inevitable death. But will her life end the way she intends it to? "Other Side" premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas on March 7th.

This movie is 1 hour and 30 minutes and is not rated. 

Watch the official trailer.

About the Directors

Carter Oakley and Heather Hogan are Brooklyn-based documentarians who develop shorts and features focused on the end-of-life. The pair use compelling imagery and a sincere -- but not depressing style, to capture the beauty and complexity of what it means to live and die. Their individual personal experiences and Heather’s work as a death doula has delivered their existing series Death Differently. 

Heather Hogan is a certified death doula and sought-after educator living in Brooklyn, New York. Heather also works as a life and death coach, a meditation teacher, and is certified in Integrative Thanatology. 

Carter Oakley is a multi-media filmmaker and runs the production company Redins. Carter’s work has predominantly focused on terminal illness and end of life.

About the Speaker

Kate Bagnati is an End-of-Life Life Doula. Wife and mother of three, she is the events and social media coordinator for the Connecticut Death Collective and JumpSTARs. Originally from Geneva, New York, she has been living in Connecticut since 2004. In her spare time, she enjoys being in nature, creating art, gardening, birding, swimming, and dancing Bollywood. 

Having end-of-life conversations, providing information and education while we are still alive, is her passion. There is a great need to empower fellow humans to make their own choices so they can feel safe and supported in their end of days. Time is fleeting, she’d like to spend the rest of hers making connections, growing community, and holding space for others in great times of transition.