Solstice (2022)
When 15-year-old Mary died by suicide, her parents were met with shame and stigma. They refused to be silent
Solstice (2022)
Directed by Helen Newman, 57 mins
UK Premiere
When 15-year-old Mary Baker took her own life after a three-year battle with a serious mental illness, the stigma and silence that surrounds suicide compounded her family's grief and isolation.
Solstice documents the extraordinary story of Mary's parents, Annette and Stuart, as this personal tragedy propelled them into the public space to confront the challenges of mental illness and help to end the heartbreaking loneliness of those left behind when a person dies by suicide.
Stumbling on Mary's poetry after her death, her writings became Annette and Stuart's imprimatur for bravely speaking into the silence. They share their struggles and the challenges they faced as they prepared to bring a conversation around suicide into their home town's main square, through a unique collectively healing event, 'Winter Solstice'.
Unintentionally and unexpectedly they became firebrands for better mental health support and, as their determination grew, they reached out to anyone who would help them in their mission to create the change that may have saved their daughter.
Through intimate interviews, archival footage, verité events, animations and a nuanced, layered soundscape, Solstice draws together the threads of a world always shadowed by grief yet filled to the brim with determination and hope, seeking to unite, challenge and change how we respond to our collective mental health crisis now and into the future.
The discussion after the screening was moderated by Global Health Film Trustee, Dr Peter Jarrett. Peter was joined by Solstice director, Helen Newman, Mary's parents, Annette and Stuart Baker, and James Sale, director of policy, advocacy and financing at United for Global Mental Health
Highlights from the discussion are below.
Global Health Film members can access the full 55-minute discussion and our Solstice resource pack of additional reading in the members' area of the website.
Find out more about Global Health Film membership
Solstice is available on our VOD platform until Monday 05 December!
Festival passes, ticket bundles and single tickets
- Full online festival pass: £55
- Five-ticket bundle: £19.75
- Three-ticket bundle: £12.75
- Single ticket: £4.75
