The Final Days of Numakage Public Pool

The Grief of Community

The documentary uses the five stages of grief to frame the final seven weeks of the pool’s operations. The young lifeguards, who are in their first summer jobs, are learning responsibility. The elderly women who rely on the pool for exercise and social interaction are grappling with their grief. The employees, who are desperate to make the government reconsider its decision, are writing letters to officials. Each perspective captures the emotional weight of the situation.

The Decision to Close

Despite the objections of patrons and employees, the municipal government decided to build a new combined elementary and middle school on the site. The pool, which has been a community hub since 1971, closed in 2024. The decision to demolish the pool was made in 2022.

The Five Stages of Grief

The documentary employs the five stages of grief as a framing device. The young lifeguards are in the denial stage, the elderly women are in the anger stage, and the employees are in the bargaining stage. The film captures the emotional journey of each group as they come to terms with the impending loss.

The Young Lifeguards

The young lifeguards are learning responsibility in their first summer jobs. They are tasked with keeping the pool clean and safe. They are also responsible for supervising the children who use the pool. The film shows them struggling with the weight of their responsibilities. They are in the denial stage, as they are still in awe of the pool and its potential.

The Elderly Women

The elderly women are in the anger stage. They are upset that their only source of exercise and social interaction is being demolished. They are angry at the government for making such a decision. They are also angry at themselves for not being able to save the pool. The film shows them expressing their anger through their actions, such as writing letters to officials.

The Employees

The employees are in the bargaining stage. They are desperate to make the government reconsider its decision. They are writing letters to officials, trying to convince them to keep the pool open. They are also trying to find ways to make the pool more appealing to the community. The film shows them working together to find solutions, even as they know that the pool is closing.

The Letter-Writing Campaign

The employees are writing letters to officials, trying to convince them to keep the pool open. They are also trying to find ways to make the pool more appealing to the community. The film shows them working together to find solutions, even as they know that the pool is closing.

The Five Stages of Grief

The documentary uses the five stages of grief as a framing device. The young lifeguards are in the denial stage, the elderly women are in the anger stage, and the employees are in the bargaining stage. The film captures the emotional journey of each group as they come to terms with the impending loss.

The Young Lifeguards

The young lifeguards are in the denial stage. They are still in awe of the pool and its potential. They are still in denial about the fact that the pool is closing. The film shows them struggling with the weight of their responsibilities, as they are still in awe of the pool and its potential.

The Elderly Women

The elderly women are in the anger stage. They are upset that their only source of exercise and social interaction is being demolished. They are angry at the government for making such a decision. They are also angry at themselves for not being able to save the pool. The film shows them expressing their anger through their actions, such as writing letters to officials.

The Employees

The employees are in the bargaining stage. They are desperate to make the government reconsider its decision. They are writing letters to officials, trying to convince them to keep the pool open. They are also trying to find ways to make the pool more appealing to the community. The film shows them working together to find solutions, even as they know that the pool is closing.