Hangman is a shattering portrayal of the stages of grief at the loss of a life-partner by suicide. When the grief pops up as a vision of her deceased husband, she makes some shocking realizations. This award-winning film captures the pain of grief and the relentlessness that comes with the memory of a loved one quite literally, popping up in the grocery aisle when you least expect it.
HANGMAN is based on actual events and those left behind.
I made Hangman after losing my brother to suicide. I saw plenty of stories about those we lost but not about those of us who were left behind. My background is in comedy and I knew I needed to make a dark comedy about my grief story, though it is depicted through the eyes of a different relationship.
No one grieves the same way and many times our grief can make us do ridiculous things – sometimes those things are funny. And that’s ok, too. Sometimes we forget for just a split second what our reality is: that we have actually lost this person and we’re walking through the grocery store and BAM, we are reminded of our grief through a song or a food product.
Director Megan Brotherton and DP/Editor Kevin Schlanser were paramount in filling the space with trust, creativity, know-how and skill.
We knew we were taking a risk with the way we were depicting grief. And in the case of Hangman, the grief is represented by legs and feet that can literally pop up and smack you in the face at any time. I’m beyond grateful to know that it has resonated, and we really hope that there is someone in the audience who finally feels seen for being the one left behind.
If you have questions about how we filmed it or to share your own story, I would love to hear from you.
-Sarah Rodenbaugh, Writer/Producer/Lead
Instagram @hangmantheshortfilm
