Victor's Last Class (2016) User Reviews

Freedom of Choice

[room102 · 9/10 · 7 November 2016]

A documentary about Victor D'Altori, a 52-year old acting teacher, who suffers from chronic pain and decides to end his life by committing suicide.

This documentary is probably the least depressing I've seen about people choosing to end their life. Victor announces his plans to his friends and loved ones and openly discusses the issue, his rationals, and the effect his act is going to bring on the people he knows.

The director, a young acting student, takes part in the film and unavoidably becomes a part in Victor's life, having an effect his his plan.

This is a very important film about freedom of choice. The way Victor plans and talks about everything detaches you in a way from the immense feeling your'e supposed to feel and yet makes total sense. Before having his own disease he witnessed what AIDS and Alzheimer's diseases can do to people's body and mind and he is convinced a person has to right to choose whether to live or not and that a person shouldn't suffer just in order to not cause other sadness.

Watching the film, you sometimes get the feeling of "his disease is not that bad" and "his suicide can be prevented", hearing Victor talks about these issues, one can understand the rational behind his decision. You have a strange feeling, on one hand feeling a great need to help a man who decides to end his life, and on the other hand understanding that this is his choice and trying to prevent it from him will only make him suffer and not allow him to choose for himself whether to live or not.

Victor prepared all the people he knows for his death. And while it probably doesn't make them less sad, it's a nice way of trying to ease the pain.

When my mom ended her life it came for me just out of nowhere. Her suicide is both similar and very different from Victor's. But although I wasn't prepared for it and didn't have the chance to tell her goodbye, I never felt angry at her decision not even once and not even for a second.

This film stuck with me

[Sasha_Lauren · 7/10 · 19 December 2019]

Victor D'Altori, an honest, self-reflective acting teacher in Los Angeles, had cancer repeatedly. He did the treatments, the chemo, he fought for his life, a life he loved, but the physical pain, constant at a seven on a scale of ten, kept coming back. He still had joy, but the unrelenting pain put a negative wash over his existence in his body. After all, we experience this life in this one vessel.

Victor told his loved ones that he planned to exit his body with intention. He challenged the notion that suicide is a snide, selfish, angry act. He did not want to hurt anyone, and this in fact, caused him to stay longer than he wanted. He was in pain, he had no way to remedy that, so under those sad circumstances, he wanted to leave. He wished it were otherwise, but he saw no choice but to take action.

Brendan Brandt, a young filmmaker, decided to document Victor during this challenging stage of his life. Victor agreed. These two men grew attacted during the filming process. Brandan tried to give Victor something to live for and set him up to teach one more acting class. Victor was a wonderful teacher, whose students adored him and were positively affected by the exercises and lessons he shared. Victor loved it too, but it was not enough to overcome the reality of unrelenting pain.

Brendan wanted to change Victor's mind about suicide, but Victor, still in pain, had consciously, over a long time, evaluated his situation, and he knew what he had to do. One of my dearest friends did this recently.

Amazingly Honest, Thought Provoking, Wonderful truthful documentary about a Bright Shining Star of a Man who was not willing to compromise(nor should he) wishing to end pain

[crazysadie-51394 · 10/10 · 11 June 2022]

This documentary really struck deeply within me, because much of what Victor said was absolutely the same way I feel.

Victor was brave in the way he prepared those he loved and cared for, for what would happen, which is something which doesnt normally happen with for example a suicide. I don't consider it that. He was a strong man with his own mind. He took control of his body when it was getting to a level of unbearable. I know the guilt that is felt because its something I want to do but have been told I won't be forgiven etc by people. Instead I'm just living full of meds existing in bed instead of ending this nightmare existence.

I actually feel proud of Victor for taking ownership of his body and his wishes. He gave the most he could give to those around him, but eventually he had to do what he felt he needed to do, and for good reasons. I hope Victor is resting in paradise with his old love Scott.

Beautiful documentary, wonderfully put together. Well done to all who had a hand in it. This is a treasure. RIP Victor.

Absolutely Weak

[paulsebastian-21256 · 2/10 · 21 December 2019]

Talk about a brat of a grown man that could no longer deal with getting older as a gay man. He stated without pain meds his level was between 4 through 5. I have been chronically ill since HS, back pain without pain medication at a level 7 through 9. I'm also middle aged, dealing with the difficulties of the transition in a gay American society obsessed with beauty, and in constant pain. But guess what? I routinely work on back and sciatica stretches, and basically Man up! Not impressed with his whimpering, he loved the sound of his own voice, and wanted a grand exit. Hopefully there's something on the other side, otherwise such a waste of his life, and a waste of my time. No offense to the director btw, sweet guy.

Self involved and manipulative.

[Dying-Atheist · 2/10 · 3 December 2019]

I really don't see the point of this. I guess it is to draw out the pity party? I just found Victor to be somewhat pathetic, not in any way, heroic. Eventually, he painted himself into a corner, sadly everyone bought into the bravado, and my belief is he thought he would be "saved" in the end.

I have known a few people who have committed suicide, some seemly without warning, others are drawn out for a while, begging for help, but getting none that seemed to help.

I have also known others that received help and have moved on, even people that were terminally ill and in pain.

I live in a "Death with Dignity" state. I am terminally ill and have a prescription to end my life when it becomes unbearable. Everyone has their own point where that happens, I guess. A grand exit is essential to some people, I think. I was not impressed with Victor's attempt.