THE BURIAL SOCIETY NOTES: THE CREATORS

Writer/director Nicholas Racz weaves an intricate and plot-twisting tale about a Judaic community of unique old men who participate in the mysterious world of the Chevrah Kadisha or THE BURIAL SOCIETY.  For thousands of years these rituals and practices have existed but the exact nature of these rites are seldom spoken of and have never been depicted on screen. When first time filmmaker Racz was asked to describe what inspired him to craft such a unique narrative he admits that an acquaintance helped give the story its genesis.  “That this organisation actually existed completely fascinated me - I know the story will simultaneously compel and repel the audience,” says Racz, noting that extensive research into the rituals and practices of these fastidious undertakers informed the filmmakers into re-creating the sacred world. “It’s been a long eight years” notes first time feature producer Richard Baumgartel who’s been driving this project with writer/director Nicholas Racz.    “THE BURIAL SOCIETY opens up a window on a world people have never seen before – the film seamlessly blends commercial elements with esoteric subject matter, and keeps you guessing right until the end!” says Baumgartel.  The other dynamo behind the project, Howard Dancyger, was approached with the script four years ago and agrees that what intrigued him about THE BURIAL SOCIETY was the depiction of  “a world that you never see on film.” Shepherding this feature to the screen are widely respected executive producers, J. Todd Harris (Denise Calls Up, Urbania) and Raymond Massey (Suspicious River, Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity).  Massey’s experience with packaging uniquely Canadian features coupled with Harris’s extensive contacts with the Hollywood community, have contributed to form a strong production team.  It is this team that has brought THE BURIAL SOCIETY, an ambitious independent Canadian feature film, shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, to fruition.