Six Feet Under (HBO) - 2001

About Six Feet Under

'Six Feet Under' is an American black comedy-drama television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It revolves around the Fishers, a family of funeral directors who struggle with issues of relationships, death, and the supernatural as they operate a funeral home in Los Angeles. The show was lauded for its thematic depth, dark sense of humor, and realistic portrayal of life and death.

Making / Production

The series was created by Alan Ball, who also served as a writer, director, and executive producer. It was shot in single-camera setup and filmed on location in Los Angeles and at the Hollywood Center Studios. Cinematography was done by Alan Caso and the music was composed by Thomas Newman.

Actors

• Peter Krause as Nate Fisher. He plays the prodigal elder son of the family and the reluctant head of the family's funeral business. Krause brought a sense of charismatic confusion to the role.
• Michael C. Hall as David Fisher. He portrays the repressed younger brother who struggles with his sexuality. Hal's performance was highly praised for its sensitivity and depth.
• Frances Conroy as Ruth Fisher. She is the matriarch of the family, whose journey of self-discovery forms a crucial storyline. Conroy's performance was marked by a gentle mix of sadness and humor.
• Lauren Ambrose as Claire Fisher. She plays the youngest Fisher who feels misunderstood and constrained by her family. Ambrose's portrayal was acknowledged for its authenticity and vivacity.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The funeral home was actually a home in West Adams, Los Angeles, and was used in the pilot episode. Later, a replica was built in Hollywood Center Studios.
• Alan Ball had previously written the Academy Award-winning movie 'American Beauty'
• Understanding the show's title, 'Six Feet Under' - it's not just the depth at which bodies are traditionally buried, but also the psychological state of the leading characters, feeling they're metaphorically 'six feet under'.

Awards

'Six Feet Under' was met with critical acclaim and won numerous awards. Notably, it received three Golden Globes, nine Emmys, a Peabody Award, and was frequently part of 'greatest shows of all time' lists.

Quotes

• "A person's life, their entire life, is just different kinds of love strung together in a beautiful necklace of existence." - Nate Fisher
• "The world is full of leaky faucets that you can't fix." - David Fisher
• "You spend your whole life thinking you're not getting it, people aren't giving it to you. Then you realize they're trying and you don't even know what it is." - Ruth Fisher

Music

The music of 'Six Feet Under' stands out for its quality and thematic complexity. It was composed by the talented Thomas Newman.

Soundtrack

• "Six Feet Under Title Theme" – Thomas Newman
• "Heaven" – Lamb
• "Let's Go Out Tonight" – Craig Armstrong featuring Paul Buchanan