Death is their business

Renewed interest in funeral industry professions

Death is taboo, yet it will affect us all and those we love. While we generally feel uneasy about death, individuals are taking an interest in this sector. In fact, more and more people who are changing careers are turning their attention to the funeral industry. Unfortunately, the field has never been so flourishing, with covid-19 and, above all, the vast generation of "baby-boomers" gradually passing away. What's more, people are asking for fewer religious rites, more special requests and cremation, once a minority in France, now accounts for over 30% of the sector.

As this Arte report shows, dozens of people are retraining as funeral advisors. The team also follows a thanatopractor who lives near a cemetery with her family and even uses Tik Tok to answer questions from Internet users about caring for corpses (without presenting any, of course). Finally, a journalist decided after her father's death to set up a news website about the burgeoning world of funeral ceremonies. Technology, aqua-cremation and many other innovations are changing the way we deal with death. In addition, she pilots aperitifs with survivors, who can share their experiences of bereavement and help each other through the ordeal.

Length: 32min10