Dreams of a Life

Dreams of a Life, by Carol Morley, tells the story of a young woman who mysteriously died in her London flat and was not discovered for three years. In this documentary, investigators attempt to piece together the final moments of Joyce Vincent, as the film explores the depths of loneliness and a life disconnected from friends and family.

Despite living in the heart of a busy city, Joyce’s remains were left unnoticed for years. She was eventually identified through dental records. Her television had been left on, and she was surrounded by unopened Christmas presents.

Little could be learned from the scene, and no cause of death was determined, as her body was too decomposed for conclusions to be drawn. The film reflects on how Joyce’s loss of connection with those closest to her led to a death that remained undiscovered for three years.