Life Extended (2009)

Life Extended continues Bigert & Bergström’s examination of humanity's pursuit of control over life and death. The film profiles a gerontologist who predicts near-future immortality, architects designing spaces to slow aging, a monk undertaking a 1,000-day ritual to prepare for an immortal existence, street kids embracing the present, and others. "Today, aging is subject to control," notes a biochemist, and the rapid pace of biotechnological advancement suggests future generations will live exceptionally long lives. Rather than depicting a fixed path to immortality, the film unfolds like a relay race, with individuals moving towards the viewer. Originally conceived as a work of art, it presents a modern memento mori, contemplating death's eventual fading into memory.