Michelle Trachtenberg's Final Film Honored Her With Touching Tribute: 'We All Had To Wipe Away The Tears'

Michelle Trachtenberg‘s final film’s crew honored her memory at a recent screening.

At the SXSW film festival in Austin, Texas — the one Michelle was planning to attend before her sudden passing — her final work premiered on the big screen. The film is called Spyral, and it follows the tragic story of Michelle Cody White, who ultimately lost her life early as well. It was already an emotional ride. But knowing the actress is no longer with us just makes things all the more heartbreaking.

Producer Jennifer Hutchins did a speech ahead of the movie’s premiere, getting a bit choked up as she talked about Michelle. While addressing the audience, she said:

“I had the pleasure to work with Michelle on Spyral. I never thought… I never thought when I would start this journey that this film would become her last film.”

The producer said it all came as a complete shock, and she never expected to be contacted by “national press” about the Ice Princess star’s final days and overall wellbeing. She said she wants to keep the focus on the film’s meaning, and how Michelle helped make “a difference with mental health awareness” by working on it with the rest of the crew:

“She voiced over Michelle Cody White, whose life story the movie Spyral is about. And being in the room with her, she became Michelle Cody White. We all had to take breaks, we all had to wipe away the tears, and you can hear her breath, you can hear the shakes as she’s reading very intimate letters, diaries and journals from Michelle Cody White.”

The film shows home videos of the White family and shows Michelle Cody’s mental health descent over the course of several years before she tragically died from untreated bipolar disorder. Jessica said that Spyral is “very triggering for some” and “hard movie to watch” — but it’s clear she and the EuroTrip actress knew it was important to end the stigma around mental health.

Wrapping up her speech, the producer said:

“Before we do this, we are going to do a 45-second silence for Michelle.”

The film sounds really important. We just hope Michelle’s involvement gets more eyeballs on it than it might have gotten otherwise. What a noble work to be her final film. Rest in peace, Michelle.

For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.

[Image via MEGA/WENN]