Indian documentary A Fly on the Wall, directed by Nilesh Maniyar and Shonali Bose, is set to make its world premiere in the Wide Angle Documentary competition at the Busan International Film Festival. The film’s first teaser has also been released ahead of the premiere.
The deeply personal documentary chronicles the final days of Chika Kapadia, a man diagnosed with a terminal illness and given just four months to live. Kapadia opts for physician-assisted suicide at Dignitas in Switzerland, a decision that forms the core of the film. The filmmakers, close friends of Kapadia, document not only his journey but their own emotional response to witnessing such a deeply intimate event.
This is the third feature collaboration between Maniyar and Bose to be presented at Busan, following their previous works The Sky Is Pink and Margarita with a Straw.
Speaking about the film’s origins, Bose said, “This film was not a choice, it was a dying wish that we acted on. Chika, my friend of 25 years, approached Nilesh and me with a deeply personal mission: to capture how peaceful physician-assisted suicide could be, hoping to reduce the fear and alarm surrounding it.” She adds, “In those turbulent two weeks leading up to his death in Zurich, I was just coping and following Nilesh’s lead where the film was concerned.”
Maniyar reflects on the emotional complexities of the project, said, “My first reaction was how does one go through with physician-assisted suicide and not have the greed of that extra moment of breath? But I could see how sure Chika was about not being tied to tubes and wires in his last moments. What began as Chika’s personal quest became a joint mission for all three of us.” He further explains that the documentary is more than just a film: “I hope the film encourages audiences to think deeply about the right to die with dignity… We want the film to spark conversations that help destigmatize physician-assisted suicide and confront the ethical and human rights implications of denying people control over their end-of-life choices.”
Bose also highlighted the broader message of the film, said, “Ultimately, for me it is also about removing the fear around death and viewing it as a part of life – something that can be peaceful and dignified. We want viewers to reflect on these issues and consider the humanity behind them.”
A Fly on the Wall aims to open a conversation about end-of-life choices, dignity in death, and the accessibility of such options for people worldwide.
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