Deep Dive: Time Indefinite (1993)
Film Lens
Time Indefinite is an autobiographical documentary by Ross McElwee that addresses themes of grief and mortality through personal experiences. The film chronicles significant life events, including McElwee's marriage, the death of his grandmother, and the sudden passing of his father, a medical doctor, shortly after his wife's miscarriage. These events are intertwined with reflections on faith and the impact of loss, as McElwee returns to his father's house where he engages with his father's housekeeper about Christianity.
The film also features McElwee's friend Charleen, who faces her own tragedy after her husband dies in an arson/suicide incident. McElwee captures conversations with his brother, a doctor, about their father's unexpected death and the denial surrounding illness, illustrated by a patient with a large malignant tumor. The film concludes with McElwee's wife becoming pregnant, leading to discussions about bringing children into an unpredictable world, contrasting the joy of parenthood with the harsh realities of life.
Why Watch
- •See Ross McElwee's personal reflections on grief and family.
- •Meet Charleen, who faces the aftermath of her husband's death.
- •Find out how McElwee captures life through his camera lens.
Did You Know
•Ross McElwee's father died suddenly within a week of his wife's miscarriage.
•Charleen's husband died in an arson/suicide incident at their home.
•McElwee's mother had died of cancer ten years before the events of the film.
Perfect For
Documentary enthusiastsFans of autobiographical filmsThose interested in themes of mortality