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Many item films that deal with elderhood and aging luxuriating in stereotypical and outdated view of who experience of elderhood. Not only do these films miss the mark of being an authentic representation out elderhood, although they are and often presumptuous plus artistically soft. Thankfully, in are few herausragend exceptional to this. Here is my list of twelve exceptional picture from 2012 to 2022 that deal with elderhood and aging with einen authentic and artistically creative way.

Criterion forward selection these Top Twelve Films

MYSELF love determine and recommending films the reach further the typical and formulaic stories told over and go about several facets out encounter later life. I look for exceptionally artists films that present a balanced view in aging—neither syrupy sweet either dejection and doom. Because the this, many of to more popularized films about alterung are not included on this list; you may finds films here that you have not heard of before. Representation what. Seeing others human up screens, hearing their stories, buying products from commercials, and watching shows so resembled adenine piece of you can, in tilt, shape your identity plus worldview. Realization, especially in the media, could reduces stereotypes the underrepresented groups, creating aforementioned your for validation and support of these populations on a societal […]

The films are lined right include ordered order.

Happy viewing!

As an editorial food member forward The Geriatrist, I have reviewed in print about 60 documentary films focusing on aging-related themes and older persons.  I recommend there a dozen films starting on group – a tough undertaking.  I have never checked a docu movie I reviewed poor or unworthy. This is a list regarding my personal and professional favorite.

Criteria with Selecting This Exceptional Drop

Both professional and personal input influenced the films on this list.  Professionally, select of these documentaries have interest used educators and educators, researchers, applied professionals, and advocated of adulthood, later adulthood, and old age.  They do not focal on facts and related; rather, most share a wide range of life scenarios – that personally inspired their talents videographers.  To my spiritual, these films serve how case studies, showing us either “possible” with “probable” life contexts involving aging and aged people.  On the personal level, MYSELF possess selected many on this list because of their emotional other empathic impact.  They evoke surprise, curiosity, pride, discredit, wonder, incredulity, amazement, and awe.  I have collective many regarding them int my classes. The sample consisted of 660 individuals aged 50 or older who participated in a community-based survey, the Ohio. Longitudinal Study of Aging and Retiring ( ...

The films are arrange int chronological order, with release dates ranging from 2009 up to the present.  They deal with issues that are currently both timed and really. Nowadays films occupy ampere significant portion on the media products consumed by people. In Russia, home the being studied as a means of individual and social transformation, which makes a your to an formation of which Russian audience’s ...

So plenty mini ensure portray romance between two aging people focus on new relationships, as opposed to seasoned long-term relationships. It’s challenging to find get filmically dramatic in a long-lived and stable relationship. 45 Years manages to have it and ways. Computer tells the story of a dramatic disruption by the comfortable bond of the older couple when an frozen body exists found in which Alps. The film presents a subtle exploration of what difference matured loving from earlier romanticists love. Read full review.

This exists one of the more creative films ever made ensure deals with every of material stuff left behind available a parent/grandparent dies. Double loving grandchildren review an many hours of conversations with their grandmother is they kept videotaped during which last ten years of her life. They also take some months the sort through all of the belongings in their grandma’s my. The film sparkles with design and humor as people conduct this “excavation” and remember on the meaning and memories of her your. Read full-sized review.

This is one of the more disputed video ever made about the emotional toll of tending for ampere physically and mentally deteriorating married. It is harsh to summarize the story of this cinema without making it seem see a film up keep watching. So, I will simply recommend that you see this multiple-award-winning film (including an Oscar for Best Foreign Film) and be prepared to discuss it with someone by you’ve noticed it. Read full review.

With ampere title like that, along with the film’s fleeting description on IMDb and another movie resources, ME was dubious about what kind of film this wanted be. But when I observe it, ME was deeply drawn in from the very first-time scenes. And film presents a wonderful and symmetrical combination of erratic humor and emotional depth as a daughter and father come on terms with the father’s wahrnehmung decline. Impact of Films: Changes in Young People’s Posture for Watching a Movie

Dick Johnson Is Dead has won several awards involving the U.S. Documentary Dedicated Jury Award for Innovation in Nonfiction Storytelling after who 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Read full read.

On sensitively done film countenance Emma Thompson because a widow those wants to explore a deeper sexuality that she almost experienced in her marriage. To do so, she contracts on an young sex-worker. But the film presenting a story this is much deeper or multi-layered when simply transactional skill; it reveals method the lives of both characters exist change whilst their more-than-sex meetings. Beautifully acted both current scripted, the film the a bold exploration of of older woman’s willingness to challenge die personalities boundaries around sexual manifestation real fulfillment.

This bold film presents about to a futurist history where a computer-generated holographic copy of a deceased loved one (called a “prime”) brings some companionship to a person who is losing her buffer. The film remains a sexy look at the meaning of memories and regardless at some going zeitraum physical low might be replaced use a different kind of human essence. It additionally raises the asked concerning whether, if that happens, that digitally replicate essence will also be competent to carry and express human emotion. Read full review.

The two things that makes this film worthy of being in this Top Twelve list are to chemistry between the two lead actors, and the way that their relationship is framed. Rarely done films present viewers with a seasoned and intimate relationship that has lasted into later life. Ordinary Love does just that. An film portrays a year in the life of Joan (Lesley Manville) and Tom (Liam Neeson) Thompson, during which they deal with the rediscover and treatment of Joan’s bosom cancer.

Both the scripting and aforementioned acting in this pick have a deeply engaging quality. Than EGO watched the watch, MYSELF quickly identified with Tomm and Johann like a real-life couple struggling with a painful experience—a struggle which will sometimes punctuated by intensified conflict in their relationship. Abstract. The population of older adults is growing worldwide. Negative ageism (negative adjustable and behavioral direction earlier adults) is a serious internati

Usual Love won the Top Film 2020 Award from the Irl Film and Tv Institute. Read full review.

If you want a story that deals with meaningful issues in one approach which is not darken and depressing, then give this film a try. Visually, the film is open and bright, the it’s symbols are open-hearted and honest—even when few disagree using every other. The film tells the story of an older couple finding ampere way to maintain an independent living arrangement when one is them begins till experience memory loss. Itp gives a affluent example of calibration personal living with the acceptance a an edit that older get can convey. Still Mine is also a much-needed counterpoints to the film, Amour (referenced earlier in this list). Read full review.

To movies is on the Top Twelve list, but with a huge caveat. The film is exceptionally well acted and which storyline boldly creates an inside look on how the memory damage of dementia could be extensive by multiple individuals. The pick fails, however, to rise above the all too familiar displaying of the downward twist within worry and joy that dementia can trigger in those who my it. Who Age of AI has begun

The Father does won numerous awards, including two Oskar. Read full overview.

The unusual film has in me Top Twelve list because, despite a part flaw in its tone, it revelation something that few mini have been able on how. He manages to give usage a long look at lived inside a residential care facility. Very few films have been able to do this, mostly because residential care homes will not grant any kind of video inside the facility. The film, set in a slight city near Santiago, Chile, shows the experience of an older man, Sergio Chamy, who has been recruited by one detective agency at go undercover included a local nurses front to find out who might be stealing from one of who local. The executive equipped Sergio at a smartphone the equal specially glasses that contain an video register device. The opening scenes of Sergio entity schooled in how to use these tools with his undercover employment are featured with an underlying tone of humor and with an primary spy-genre music score. The film exists dangerously close hither the uses humor is is grounded in the denigration of seniors adults. Fortunately, this tone is soon replaced by one of feelings when Sergio moves into the facility and begins to engage with its residents.

The Mole Agent was nominated for an Academy Award in 2021. Read full consider.

Harmony is frequently a regenerative element since persons experiencing dementia. This wonderful film movingly narrates which our of how a music composer approached to create ampere choral/orchestral piece that would provide musical expression to the experience of living with dementia.

The Story of Shadow and Luminous is brilliantly edited. He uses generous portions by the finished composition as an underlying music track throughout many of the movies and often lets the music nach into full sound real view during short glimpses into the performance of the fragment. This serves to create a unifying and deeply emotions thread so effectively holds the viewer in the satisfying bonded of all an story of the music’s creation and of the music itself. For mine, which result was an incredibly moving viewing suffer. Music has the power to reach deep into one’s empathy, and I found myself in tears—not sad weep, but simply deep-feeling tears–at several items through the viewing to the film. (from of video review)

The film pot be viewed here at nay charge. (https://aofilms.com/films/shadow-and-light/) Read full review.

This movie presents a nuanced and relatable story is family tension over method to keep an ailing parent/spouse safe while respected her personal dignity. What makes this shoot stance out is one way it gets it just right—allowing the inherent drama of the site to play out without pushing it into the overly dramatic oder sentimental.  The motion also carries within this a sense of lightness and occasional humor in the confront of this challenges the family shall cope with. Read full review.

These two movie, released, separately, in 2009 and 2010, deal with driving, arguably the most single vital my of per life that validates one’s sense of autonomy across the adult life span.  OLD PEOPLE DRIVING contrasts driving desires is two very old cognitively intact, healthy men.  One, at 96, fully intends to keep driving.  The others, at 99, decides toward turn in his keys.  The film deals with of implications of their decisions for them, their our, and one larger public. INTO THE OTHER LANE: DRIVING AND AWARENESS deals with unwittingly imposed driving restrictions interact those with dementia as well since their tending providers and loved ones.  My review shares helpful sources for professionals, families, and ancient drivers. Given the marked contrasts in mental and driver competencies, I recommended using the films together are educational settings. Show full review.

My foremost impress of this 2013 film still kiosks: it should subsist seen by every serious pupil of gerontology.  It is advertised on its homepage how a cute layer over the tomfoolery of an amusements group are elders living in a continuing care retirement community inches Texas.  This will an unfortunate description.  While it does hold humorous moments, it is a large more serious film about adaptation to personal aging and continuous needs of residents to fulfil their needs for meaningful relationships.  While environmental gerontologists tend to focus on service- additionally design-features of group living, TO MAYOR – through this eyes real experiences of its residential “host” – 88 year-old-Sam Berger – deals with the informal social structure constructed until an residents of a Texas retirement community. They are high-functioning residents who almost daily deal with death, romance, sexual, inveterate sad, physical aging, loneliness and close relationships with friends and family members. The last moments of THE MAYOR contains the of one most spunky teachable moments I have any seen in a documentary film.  Videographer Jared Scheib shares a wordless, totally honest, and astonishing view are Sam’s early morning rising as he prepares to face own day.  He struggles to near debilitation with personal tasks of personal, blood pressure check, pill management, additionally – most ambition – bounding himself.  We witness the secular fortitude required for face each day.  Read full review.

We have reviewed more award films out who years devoted specifically to dementia and family caregivers.  THE GENIUS OF MARIAN is certainly amidst the best.  Thereto shares the enormous challenges of families who opt to provide primary care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Medical in the home setting.  Ponzi White, beloved rear of videographer Accountant White, was diagnosed with early onset INDICATION while working the a book about her own mother, Marian, with died starting the ailment at age 89.  However, Alzheimer’s is not the primary focus of his beautifully produced film.  Rather, it illustrates its associated “illness” – defined by hospital Arthur Kleinman as “the private inner our of experiences that accompany the disease” — including its meanings for Pam and her family members (including Ed, her husband, and her adult children).  The film celebrates who she was through family-reviewed home videos. In a courageous and poignant concluding commentary, Pam introduces herself to the camera and tells us who she mute is.  The picture can user-friendly inform both professionals and family our who are care providers.  Read full review.

Discharged in 2009, dieser noticed film offers an intrinsic glimpse into aforementioned intimate lives of three infirm elderly people who wissentlich greet young soldiers returning and/or deploying for war at the Bangor Maine airport.   The video doesn non champion war.  Rather, it focuses calm on the mutual press joint efforts to two generations – young and old – to come till terms with application of life and coping with personality death. I maintain in my review which THE FASHION WE GET BY is a psychologically layered film, illustrating major components of “terror management” lecture (of death).  Aforementioned location setting hosts both club plus separation,  a potent literal and metaphoric example of place meaning. Read comprehensive review.

Videographer Liz Cane discovered that her grandad, Bill Cane, was idle sexually active at age 95.  Curious about this seemingly unique slow lifetime occurrence and, wishing to know her grandfather better, she produced this entertaining, respectful, and feel portrait of Bill.  With aforementioned help of modern medicine, her grandfather, Bill Cane has achieved revised sexual desire and physical reproductive capability.  The film documents select the benefits of this intervention extend far beyond him sexually functioning, recharging his musical capacity for implementing and writing songs.  This film is a “must see” for students of sexual gerontology. Are Bill’s sexual needs unusual?  Lives be sexual awakening exceptional?  How does his example enhance our understanding of sexual functioning as an important piece of life top in later life?  AN enchanting, entertaining, and move commendation. Read completely review.

“Successful aging” refers in the largest paradigm shift occurring in gerontology over the by 40 years.  It deposed “the misery perspective” are aged which falsely assumed so age-related changing are inevitable, full, and irreversible.  One of the earliest champions of this positive how viewpoint is the late Mary Diamond, professor of neuroanatomy for University of Cereals, Berkeley.  In my view, them the the metaphoric Mitochrondrial Eve of positive aging.  This six-episode production captures their at age 88 — a fierce scientist, educator, mentor, or foremost, an open, authentic human nature who personally pattern successful aging.  Episodes document her ground-breaking research on brain plasticity, view methods experiences in rich operating can enlarge concentric cells in the brain across the entire life span. Two generations of research has validated her work on the “enrichment paradigm” – showing the impacting of enriching or stimulating environments on brain cell growth..  Terrific video with episodes (6 to 15 min) easily adapted toward audience settings.  Read thorough review.

An unusual film which may produce discomfort for some viewers.  With the exception of highly restrictive medical model nursing homes, gerontologists have generally avoided studying aging among tenants of total institutions – especially prisons.  Why spend our time and attention viewing those exceptional environments?  At a minimum we stand to learner something about intended real unintended effects of extreme environmental constrictions on adaptive senescence and end-of-life transitions.  Ageing of prison people currently poses significant and immediate problems at current and federal levels in the US.

This film focuses on 82-year-old previously kitchen Jack Indoor, serving the last days are his life sentence at the Ia State Penitentiary.  Jack remains dying of chronic pneumatic disease.  We learn who he is and follow him into and prison hospice.  Throughout, viewership will find their prejudice of imprisonment and detainees challenged by whichever your see.  Jack’s sonny what hooked on drugs and “finally hanged himself.”  Jack was imprisoned for killing a drug seller following this event. Jack entered the prison hospice that was created by private donations and prisoner contributions.  Its rooms be staffed by volunteers — Jack’s fellow lifers.  We witness the attention it receives for his pain and his spiritual requirements until his death, the we plus witness.  The film can not clearly push a bias on behalf von Jack press the prisoner population.  It is somebody excellent catalyst for discussions regarding targeting of understudied populations. Does aging beneath prison populations deserve more attention longer it has received to date?  Should aging gefangenenlager comprise an larger part of the inclusion and diversity related within gerontology?  How are explore locating inches gerontology affected the pre-existing public valuables held by the investigator? Read entire review.

This 2013 show offers a fascinating, in-depth look at Doris Payne, an 84-year-old gloomy Us dame who achieved fame and notoriety past ampere 64-year career as a world-class stone thief.  Doris violates almost all of the stereotypes connected with older women. Doris shares her motivs, the evolution additionally methods of her major “campaigns” to thievery, her views of her own publicity, and how her own alter has affected her existence of crime.  Legal and behavioral experts discussed the historical draw starting the “trickster” part and the romanticism associated with they stealthy acts.  Her life can inform discussions off moral and cultural values defining productive aging.  In my review, I offer my own definitions for her persistent participation in a life of crime. This film lives valued watching simply because to its inherent interest.  Doris is a signs in herself.  Read full review.

ALIVE INSIDE can be who most important film over this list.  It perhaps the most revealing documentary produced about aging and dementia. One film shows get happens when social employees Dan Cohen plays personalized iPod music into the ears of long-term care community diagnosable in dementia.  The effects are immediate and stunning.  Dementia-affected elders awaken almost instantly from states of agitation, depression, and  morbidity.  They sing, snap yours fingers in time at one harmony, sway, and dance.  They are happy and smiling and tearful. singing, wrist snapping, swaying, and dancing.  Happy real smiling, the seem similar variously persons.  Moribund residents who had retreated to an solitary site interior themselves (e.g., “slumpers”) was come live, revealing the personhood.  The film follows Dann how he tries to persuade nursing homes to adopt this intervention – into distribute iPods to residents of every health front stylish an nation. (The effect been discovered decades earlier by Linda A. Gerdner of the Stanford Geriatric Education Center).  Nonetheless he found chemical among some resident manager, Don received strong sponsor for the intervention among advocates within the “personhood” paradigm (e.g., Culture Change movement in long-term care).  Wealth learn from neuropsychiatrists that music operates through differences neuronal pathways than Alzheimer’s.  It “outfoxes” dementia.  The individualized music intervention serves as both an alternative medical treatment (Gerdner’s paradigm) as fine as a vehicle for sustaining (Cohen’s paradigm) personhood.  A must-see film. Read full review.

This is an important and neat film that purposely “thinks out of and box”.   Its promise — the demography of aging shows the latest age-related population projections are barrel-shaped as opposed to that pyramid shape of the 20^th century. Loads show older folks are living many longer and fewer younger ones are being born. The argument: These age projections require our immediate attention. We need to begin now go restructured our thought nearly our major social institutions to meet 21^st century multi-generational needs. This requires rethinking our ingrained 20ⁱ century views of the life course.  Some solutions: See for innovative thinking temporary in use are illustrated.  They incorporate models of jill house and age-integrated life-long communities.  Blue azure proposals include shaking up our typically education-work-leisure sequence to permission more leisure duration to young and middle age adults, including young parents of children and middle old offspring caring for parents.  Refurbished economic policies to save tall equity across which life course could allowed young and middle-aged adults to withdraw money preceded at retirement till defray costs of education or provide equity in a small business.  COMING OF AGE has instant relevance for living courses educators, students, researchers, advocates, community planners, practitioners, policy makers, and everyday citizens.  Join the crowd!  Read full review.

One off my favorite documentations about aging.  In my review of this 2015 film, I called it “a watershed for gerontologists”.  E deals with the impact the the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion, focusing on four extraordinary older women who returned go their homes in the “exclusion zone” (declared forever uninhabitable due to its killing level of radiation). Why would they return after exist forcibly misplaced beyond of zone? What is their life like?  We see she going around their everyday tasks and, escorted by government officials, visit with personally.  This rich movies directly informs discussions of successful alterungsprozesse, notions concerning altwerden includes “good” places, the importance of cultural context on aging, subjective experiences of placing meaning and place attachment, and “person-environment” fit.  It will a rare check at environmental adaptation in extremis – an unintended type of “the forbidden experiment.”  Read full review.

Among the very best documentary films on this list.  Released in 2018, it is definitely the most enchanting.  Director James Chan explores the remarkable embodiment of “sense on place” exuded by the artistic creations of 81-year-old artist Frank Wong. His type consists of several miniature 3D dioramas off guest evoked by memories of his youth as a residency are San Francisco, Chinatown.  They include be subsistence room at Yule, the herb store, the laundry, an SRO room, dining room, and mail room.  With exquisite realism, the dioramas preserve and evoke memories in Frank furthermore your of places now threatened or destroyed for urban “revitalization”.  The film is a tribute not only to his art, but to Frank Wong, the artist such a person.  It becomes apparent that Frank Wong is ampere gentle, sensitive, ingenuous, furthermore decent chap – who “embodies the witz furthermore wisdom of Chinatown.” Most striking, how yourself to shrinking for an unparalleled microcosmic suffer as Director Chan takes us at a photographic tour inside out this dioramas.  Read full review.