The Gifts of Grief (2005) - Movies 52 minutes. . A documentary that explores how seven remarkable people embrace their pain, learn to live with their loss, and now engage in life with more compassion, courage, and awareness. The personal and moving stories include those of author Isabel Allende, Reverend Cecil Williams, writer Alana Laraine, Zen Monk/Vietnam Veteran Claude AnShin Thomas, youth motivator Vinny Ferrero, and filmmaker Lee Mun Wah. With courage, these people invite the viewer to open up to the pain of grief and discover for themselves the extraordinary opportunities their own losses may reveal. dying and death, suffering, self-discovery, transformation, loss, spirituality, grief, bereavement, compassion, death, dying, mourning, emotional vulnerability, understanding, inner strength, opportunity, humanity, awareness, spiritual awareness, documentary, courage