The Cassette: Beautiful and surprising film encourages people to rethink death

Death is still a taboo subject for most. Despite its inevitability, it isn't a subject most of us like to think about. That's true for all creatures, great and small, from humans right through to woodland creatures like us squirrels, especially this old nut who's pushing on—to put it mildly.

Let's face it, coming to terms with death can be scary. But this thought-provoking campaign from Palliative Care Queensland (PCQ) seeks to encourage people to rethink their perspective on death and achieves this with a beautifully crafted stop-motion animation short film that is easily one of this year's must-see campaigns. 

Called ‘The Cassette’, the two-minute film tells the story of a man who is visited by Death. Surprised that his time is almost up, the protagonist doesn't meekly bow out, but decides that he wants to go out on his own terms, with one last spin of his favourite song, the Pixies’ classic Here Comes Your Man. How the scenario plays out, and how his wife and daughter react, is a bittersweet story of mixed emotions that’s equally surprising, heartbreaking and uplifting.

"The aim of this campaign is to encourage people to have conversations before the final chapter arrives so their wishes are clearly communicated and considered," said Louise O'Neill, CEO, Palliative Care Queensland. "Preparing for death ensures we are afforded expert, sensitive care, and die with the utmost dignity. It also makes it easier on loved ones. We are grateful for the ongoing support from Queensland Health."

The film was produced by indie creative agency Cocogun, which set out to approach the topic with the utmost sensitivity and respect, while challenging people’s reticence to talk about the inevitable.

"Stop-motion animation was a deliberate strategic and creative choice to ensure we captured a story that was relatable, heart-warming and provocative without being insensitive or too confronting," said Cocogun co-founder and MD Chiquita King. "We believe the story we’ve told and the way we’ve told it, lands the message in a unique and memorable way that will have an important impact on the way we think about death as a society.”

When death is featured in any media, it's usually a sombre and mournful tone. This ad is rockin'—literally—and watching it can't help but bring a smile to the face. Yet, its playful and uplifting tone is no less effective in conveying the message around how engaging with death more openly, on a personal and societal level, leads to better, more empathetic care for the sick and their families and, ultimately, a kinder, more dignified final chapter.

It's great work. Ad Nut doffs Ad Nut’s cap to the crew involved. It's seldom you see stop-motion animation in a campaign film these days and to learn that every element of puppet, prop and set design was hand-crafted makes it all the more special. This one's a true gem.