What Occurs After Death? A Bright White Light Provides Insights

      The question of what happens after death is something nearly every human has pondered, and the Finnish short film “Bright White Light,” currently screening at the Sedona International Film Festival, might offer some comforting insights.

      Directors Henna Välkky and Eesu Lehtola collected narratives from individuals who have survived near-death experiences, bringing those stories to life through black-and-white animation. Despite the heavy theme, the film often feels mesmerizing and much more reassuring than frightening. They observed a recurring theme of individuals feeling welcomed on the other side, even as they chose to return to life, often experiencing reduced anxiety about death afterward.

      "Bright White Light," which premiered at Tribeca and has participated in several festivals, including the esteemed Indy Shorts, will be screened this Thursday at the Sedona International Film Festival, recognized as one of our 25 Coolest Film Festivals.

      We communicated with Välkky and Lehtola via email, where they responded to our inquiries collectively. We discussed their process of gathering near-death accounts, the choice of black-and-white animation, and whether they discovered any common human experiences related to the afterlife.

      MovieMaker: How did you gather the stories and accounts depicted in the film?

      We began by promoting our documentary project on social media and mentioned it to everyone we encountered, which led us to find several individuals (relatives, friends of friends, etc.) willing to share. Additionally, we sought out internet forums and discussion groups where people recounted their own experiences. We then contacted some of those individuals to see if they would be interested in contributing to our project, and fortunately, several agreed to share their stories. All of the narratives in the film come from actual audio recordings of our interviews with individuals who had near-death experiences.

      Finding enough willing participants took a considerable amount of time since the topic is sensitive and carries a certain stigma. Some interviewees preferred to remain anonymous due to negative feedback from their families and others after disclosing their experiences, which we respected and ensured anonymity for all.

      We gathered around a dozen near-death experience stories, eventually selecting six for the final documentary. While each account was genuinely unique and fascinating, we aimed for a diverse representation including various genders, religions, cultural backgrounds, and age groups to provide the audience with a broad perspective on the topic.

      We spent nearly two years refining the narrative edit before proceeding to animation, which required another two years to complete.

      MovieMaker: What sparked the creation of this film, and how did it develop from that initial idea?

      Välkky and Lehtola: We have always been intrigued by phenomena that defy explanation — things that are both mystified and researched yet not fully understood.

      When we embarked on our first project together, we had three potential film ideas: recurring dreams, near-death experiences, and paranormal events. We considered subjects that captivated us and could be presented visually in a distinct way through experimental storytelling and visualizations. Our first film, “We Are in a Dream,” released in 2018, allowed us to develop our narrative and visual style. Pleased with its outcome, we decided to pursue our next idea concerning near-death experiences. These phenomena pose the question: “Is there something after death?” Despite their common traits (like light at the end of a tunnel and out-of-body experiences), these occurrences are often met with skepticism or outright dismissal, making them fascinating for us — a subjective, visual experience that can profoundly change lives yet remains difficult for individuals to openly discuss.

      This is one reason we believe experimental animation suits documentary content so well: it offers individuals a way to share their experiences anonymously.

      MovieMaker: Why did you choose black and white for the film?

      Välkky and Lehtola: While the film is in black and white, we conceptualize it more in terms of lightness and darkness, where light symbolizes energy flowing within us and the universe, and black represents the space we inhabit. After much conceptualization, we envisioned what the world might look like with an imaginary camera capturing visual details from beyond the boundary of life and death. We aimed to portray merely glimpses of the other side, focusing on the presence and energy flowing through us and our environment.

      This aesthetic draws inspiration from the grainy, unclear images produced by old handheld video cameras in night vision mode, providing a sense of the dark without clear details. Our goal was to make the film feel akin to a near-death experience, transforming it into a journey that moves the viewer through the transitions from this life to “the other side” and back again.

      Despite the existence of various scientific explanations for these experiences, many still find them life-altering, reshaping their perceptions of life and death altogether. It was vital for us to incorporate people's reflections on those experiences.

      What Happens When You Die, According to Participants in ‘Bright White Light’

      MovieMaker: Did you reach any conclusions about death while making the film? Did you find any