Video
A non-narrative about how a cemetery, a place where people bury the dead, can contain life within its borders like a garden would. Videotaped at the Evergreen Cemetery.
I liked the idea of showing living things that coexisted with the buried dead. I'm not sure how many people visit this cemetery, maybe more showed up for Veterans' Day, but when I visited, there wasn't anyone else visiting excluding me.
Despite this, I searched the grounds for signs of life, ranging from the obvious trees and grass to birds and smaller animals, such as ants and spiders.
I named the video "The Sacred Garden" because like a garden, the cemetery is self-contained to protect what it contains, in this case the dead. It's a sacred place for many people, a place where you can visit loved ones who have passed away, be it a natural death or a hero's death. It's also a historic site, containing some old graves from the city's earliest formation. What astounded me was how big this cemetery was. I remember visiting another large graveyard, but that was in Argentina.
When graveyards come to mind, most people might think of the dead rising from the grave (zombies), or a place where spirits walk the Earth restlessly or lost in confusion. Though most of this occurs at night, I wanted to shed some light on cemeteries in general. In the day a cemetery is still and full of life, that's what I want to show. A place where the dead are buried but life goes on, either ignoring or coexisting.
To be honest, I was creeped out when I was there. Partly because I was walking where the dead were buried but also because of how incredibly silent and peaceful it was. It's a shocker compared to city life and the noises it brings with it. So for those of you wanting a peace of mind from the city, I suggest visiting a cemetery to honor those who have passed away or to learn something about the city's past. Whichever you think is best!
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