The film Still Life is a poignant tale of life, love and the afterlife. The film focuses on the unassuming John May (Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky) whose life has always revolved around his work of finding the next of kin of those who have died alone for the local council in South London. He believes that everyone deserves a dignified exit and writes eulogies and organizes funerals for those who wouldn’t have them otherwise. When a new case – the death of an elderly alcoholic in a flat directly opposite his own – hits him harder than usual, he journeys outside London to track down the man’s long-abandoned daughter (Joanne Froggatt, Downton Abbey). Against the odds, the two lonely souls are drawn to each other and John starts to appreciate life’s possibilities.

A winner at the 2013 Venice Film Festival, Still Life is a beautifully observed and profoundly affecting gem. It is a resonant and universal celebration of dignity, community values and human connection, and ultimately, all that life is worth living for.