The Deep Sea: When Life Is An Obligation
The Sea Inside is a 2004 Spanish film directed by Alejandro Amenábar and starring Javier Bardem. The film is inspired by a true story, the life of Ramón Sampedro, a man who, after being quadriplegic, decides to end his life.
The story of Ramón Sampedro was one of the most popular in Spain, a country where euthanasia is not legal ; 20 years have passed since the death of Ramón Sampedro and, to this day, the law still does not contemplate assisted suicide, therefore, this story is once again in the spotlight.
The Sea Inside rekindled the flame of controversy and reopened a case that was not yet completely closed, as they had acquitted Ramona Maneiro, the woman who helped him die, due to lack of evidence and, later, he confessed guilty when the crime was already had prescribed. The first film inspired by this story was Condemned to Live (2001), but without a doubt the most recognized and acclaimed was Sea Inside , awarded the Oscar for best foreign language film.
Despite the success, he also received negative criticism from the press and some groups of quadriplegics who questioned Sampedro’s attitude towards life. The film, however, simply brings us closer to a very high-profile real case and to the question of the right to a dignified death, to the freedom to decide to which Sampedro appealed.
Ramón Sampedro, in addition to the media and cinematographic legacy, reflected his story in two written works: Letters from Hell and When I Fall, the latter published posthumously. All this has made Ramón Sampedro become a figure easily recognizable by most Spaniards and a character linked to the fight for euthanasia.
Out to sea, live or die?
Ramón Sampedro was born in Galicia in 1943, he worked as a merchant sailor until, at the age of 25, he suffered an accident that would leave him bedridden for the rest of his life. Knowing that he would never be able to move again, that his life would always depend on the care of other people, Ramón Sampedro made the decision to die, and he wanted to do it in a dignified way, which is why he became the first Spaniard to request assisted suicide. This turned his case into a source of controversy and a fight with the courts.
When he saw that his wish was not going to be fulfilled within the law, he decided to do it secretly and, for this, he had the help of his friend Ramona Maneiro because, due to his condition as a quadriplegic, Ramón could not do it himself.
Ramón recorded a video while drinking a glass of water with potassium cyanide in which he explained why he believed he deserved to die with dignity and how he had carried out this action, he also clarified that they were not looking for culprits. He was the brain of the plan and the people who collaborated with him, only, offered their hands.
In the film, we see certain discrepancies about Ramón’s decision : on the one hand, we have the various members of his family, who are opposed to death. His brother believes that they want the best for Ramón and that the best thing is not to die. On the other hand, we find some characters who empathize with Ramón, especially Julia, a lawyer, and Rosa, a neighbor who, at first, is opposed, but will end up helping Ramón.
Rosa’s character will be crucial, she is partially inspired by Ramona Maneiro and she will be in charge of helping Ramón. At first, she approaches him after seeing him on television and believes that he can help him regain the will to live, however, she will end up falling in love with him and understanding that she must accept his decision.
Julia, for her part, will be the one who takes the case to court, she, unlike Rosa, understands Ramón from the beginning, because he also suffers from a degenerative disease and considers the option of committing suicide.
Why did Ramón Sampedro want to die? Why did he say that his life was not worthy? Countless groups reacted to his statements, assuring that a quadriplegic person can be happy, can live with dignity.
We witness one of the most critical moments in this regard when a tetraplegic priest comes to see Ramón, both begin a discussion on ethical, moral and religious issues. The priest insists that life belongs to God and that living is not just running or moving your arms, that you can live in a wheelchair in the most dignified way possible. Sampedro is not that he does not accept or understand this position, he simply does not want to live, he does not want to continue fighting or accept the wheelchair, he prefers to die in peace.
All of this leads us to think that, faced with this question, there is no correct or true position. It is not a better option to choose to live or die, they are simply personal and individual decisions, in which you should not intervene. Surely it seems crazy to all of us to force a person to die or convince them to die, but why force someone to live?
Offshore, the controversy surrounding euthanasia
The truth is that euthanasia is a delicate issue because, in addition to personal decision, other factors intervene such as cultural, religious, mourning by family members and loved ones, etc. Accepting death is not easy for anyone, but accepting that someone wants to die is even more complicated.
For Ramón Sampedro life was an obligation, his disability meant hell for him and instead of trying to regain the will to live, he decided to fight to die, to die with dignity and that no one had legal problems after his death. At Sea Inside , we are witnessing this legal battle that continues to this day.
In some countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and some states of the United States, euthanasia is something legal that has become completely normal in health and more and more people request this type of death. It is not that euthanasia is contagious, it is that it has always existed and cases like Ramón Sampedro’s are not so strange, but they have always remained in the shadows and have achieved death behind the back of the law.
The media coverage of the case, the video of his death, the appearance of the film Sea Inside , etc. They led to the opening of the debate in Spain ; a debate that, as we have seen, faces countless positions. This confrontation, however, does not lead anywhere, because the truth is that if someone is convinced of their decision, they will do everything possible to make it a reality.
It is normal for family members to be the most affected and that, at first, they refuse to accept that a loved one wishes to die. The truth is that, in these cases, understanding, love and even psychological support for family members can be key on this path to acceptance.
We cannot judge anyone for their decisions or actions, nor can we force them to change their minds, what is the right thing to do? Probably, there is nothing correct, only respect towards a decision. Sea Inside shows us that we can agree or not, but in the end, love and understanding will be stronger than any personal idea.
