“Winter Hymns” Explores the Difficult Conversations Around End-of-Life Care

Most medical facilities would say palliative care helps improve quality of life for people with serious illnesses, addressing physical, emotional, and practical needs. Wisconsin filmmaker Nathan Deming describes it another way: “Palliative care tries to address the things that we never, ever say out loud.” Deming’s feature drama, “Winter Hymns,” explores the conversations between palliative care physicians and their terminal patients. The 158-minute film premiered Sunday, April 12, at the Bartell Theatre during the Wisconsin Film Festival, with a second screening on Tuesday, April 14, at 2 p.m. At Flix Brewhouse Madison. The festival runs from April 9-16.

From Family Physician to Palliative Care

Deming’s inspiration stems from his own family. “My dad was always a family physician but he made the switch into palliative care for the last ten years of his medical career,” he said. Initially hesitant to confront the subject of death and dying, Deming came to appreciate the profound impact of palliative care. “If you talk to most people in that line of work, they say this is a beautiful job. I thought it would be interesting to make a film about breaking down every mental defense we have against having these conversations, especially in the Midwest, where we keep our feelings buried.”

Dealing with How to Die

The film stars Colleen Madden, a core company member of American Players Theatre, as Dr. Linda Vobernik. Dr. Vobernik interacts with a series of patients and families, including a farmer refusing to accept his failing health, an English teacher focused on her students’ futures, and a young electrical line worker facing a shortened life due to cancer. Around ten patients are featured throughout the day, and each encounter challenges Dr. Vobernik’s beliefs.

“I wish I could have a microphone in everybody’s car because I believe the conversations happening on the rides home after the screenings will be interesting,” Madden said. The film portrays diverse experiences, including a man who sold his farm to live near a Walmart and a Hmong family grappling with conflicting religious beliefs.

Exploring Difficult Themes

“Midwest people are going to notice themselves and people they recognize in these characters and I hope it starts conversations about the end of life and that we’re all dying,” Deming stated. Madden echoed this sentiment, noting that the film is the first time she’s been able to explore the concept of death in her work. “My dad died when I was in my 20s,” Madden shared. “He was in hospice at home and was a deeply spiritual man. We talked a lot about what he was facing and what might come after the end.”

“Winter Hymns” delves into complex issues like kidney failure, dementia, elder abuse, and drug abuse. The cast includes Chiké Johnson (also from American Players Theatre), and television actors Brian Huskey (“Veep”) and Ericka Kreutz (“Dead to Me”). Many cast members are Wisconsin-based, including American Players Theatre stars Madden and Sarah Day, as well as local teachers and farmers with no prior acting experience.

The Rise of Wisconsin Filmmaking

Deming believes the timing is right for a stronger Wisconsin film industry, especially after the state legislature approved $5 million in annual film and TV tax credits in July 2025, with a $1 million cap per project. Action! Wisconsin, a film coalition, advocated for the tax incentive. “It’s definitely going to help the next generation of filmmakers in Wisconsin,” Deming said. “And I’d like to see Wisconsin represented properly on screen. A lot of movies lean into the beer and cheese and comedy of the Midwest, which I get. But allowing us to advise these deeper, heartfelt stories … shows the potential of building a film industry in this state.”

A Tribute to Palliative Care Professionals

Deming hopes the film will also honor palliative care physicians like his father. “The funny thing was, I showed it to my parents and my mom said to my dad, ‘Is that really what a typical day was like?’ And he was like, ‘Oh yeah,’” Deming recalled. “My dad used to joke that it wasn’t a normal week unless someone was thrown out of a room. Death is intense, but my dad helped hundreds of patients wrestle with it. I want people to know his experiences, too.”