Left on Purpose

2016 • 85 minutes

About this movie

Midway through the filming of a documentary about his life as an anti war activist, Mayer Vishner declares that his time has passed and that his last political act will be to commit suicide— and he wants it all on camera. Now the director must decide whether to turn off his camera or use it to keep his friend alive. Left on Purpose is an award winning feature length documentary that confronts the growing issues of aging, isolation and end of life choices through an intense character driven story of the relationship between filmmaker and subject. With humor and heart it provides a rare cinematic look at what it means to be a friend to someone in pain.

Ratings and reviews

Left On Purpose is a heart-wrenching study of a man and the choices he makes. Over the progression of the sometimes suprisingly amusing subject the film also becomes a study of the choices a documentary filmmaker must at times make in order to see a project through and what happens when the filmmaker becomes personally intertwined with the subject. Highly recommended as a study of the complexities inherent in the human condition.

I loved my this documentary. It was directed by my uncle and it is amazing. The music and the personalities are really interesting and it introduced me to the man behind the great protests of the 1960's. We need more guys like this.