Camp Widow

Camp Widow is a gathering for widowed people by widowed people. Over the course of three days, attendees speak candidly about death, forge connections with others over shared experiences of loss, and find ways to navigate the tricky waters of grief. Founded by Michele Neff Hernandez, who suddenly became a widow at age 35 when her husband died in a bike accident, the camp offers a way to both recognize tremendous loss, while at the same time celebrating continued life. The film follows an ensemble of campers who are weary of platitudes about grief, and speak to one another from a place of radical honesty that is by turns heartbreaking and darkly hilarious, embracing irreverent humor as a cathartic means of self-expression. This documentary shows the transformative power and therapeutic value of human connection, among those who have experienced loss and trauma. Ultimately, the film asks viewers to think about how we can recognize the grief of others, as well as find resilience during loss in our own lives.

Screening as part of the Documentary Shorts program.