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GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY
About
The Canadian population is aging. It is a demographic trend that can be neatly plotted in graphics, counted in statistics and measured. We are undoubtedly living longer. Statistics Canada recently put numbers to this fact, pointing out the number of people aged 100 or older increased 50 percent between 1996 and 2006, and is set to triple to more than 14 000 by 2031. Meanwhile, Canadians are having fewer babies, shifting the historical balance between the young and the old.
About this Playlist
Award-winning director, Carole Laganiere, brings us “The Moon and The Violin”, a charming and wacky portrait of senior citizens, all musicians, painters, writers and actors who live at the Chez-Nous des artistes in Montreal. A former cabaret dancer recalls how the “topless” put her out of work; a singer with a voice like Edith Piaf still gives shows for a faithful following; a lyrical soprano whose glory was long ago sings a heart-rending ballad by moonlight; a jazz musician who had to sell his instruments makes a comeback with borrowed drums and vibraphone; a witty writer with a philosophical turn of mind talks lucidly of life and death. They may no longer have careers, and the world of the hip and successful may have forgotten them, but they continue to dream, work, flirt and hold eccentric opinions. In between concerts, passionate Scrabble® tournaments, card games played with a large print deck, and a heartbreaking aria sung under a full moon by an opera diva who never really made it, they present tender, witty and wise insights about life. Filmmaker Carole Laganière is exceptionally skilled at relating to her subjects; she asks tough questions about success, failure or approaching death, but respect and pleasure infuse this film with a depth reminiscent of the ballads of Edith Piaf, and a touch of the whimsy of Fellini's Juliet of the Spirits.
In “Living Dangerously”, two seniors with major health problems, Phillip Rowley and Helen Beck, are prepared to risk their lives living alone at home rather than move into senior’s institutions. Both have suffered falls and required emergency crews to rescue them. Terrified relatives afraid they will eventually kill themselves, struggle to change their minds before a tragedy occurs.
In “Alzheimer’s: A Family’s Journey”, the filmmakers focuses on the emotional strains of a family living with Alzheimer's. The film explores the disease on a very personal level for the filmmakers. Through the lens of the camera, the experiences and struggles of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's are brought into focus.
In “Bunny and Leona”, John Kastner showcases two unforgettable elderly sisters, Bunny Drudge, 67 and Leona Mcleod, 72. Both find their lives torn apart after living together for almost 30 years when both abruptly move to different senior’s homes. The film follows them over a turbulent year as they grapple with the wrenching transition to the institutions and the shock of life apart, after being inseparable.
All of these docs are bittersweet portraits of the human condition, with its ups and downs, its laughter and its tears.
Additional Online Resources
Help The Aged Canada
Aging And The Law In Canada
Canadian Centre For Activity And Aging
Aging In Canada
Selected Films (4)
- NFB
- NFB films have influenced the works of filmmakers around the world.
- Most Popular
- Check out what your fellow doc lovers are watching.
- Reel Asian
- Showcasing alumni filmmakers from past Reel Asian festivals.
- The Images Festival
- The Images Festival looks at the dynamics of accessibility.
- Doc Challenge
- A timed competition where filmmakers have 5 days to make a short doc.
- Brian Linehan
- Brian Linehan was best known for his celebrity interviews.
- CitySonic
- Toronto sounds good. It always has.
- TVO - Makes you think
- www.tvo.org
- RIDM
- www.ridm.qc.ca
- Industry Corner 2009
- Video and audio captures of all public series' and industry sessions at Hot Docs.
- Industry Corner 2010
- Festival Industry Sessions from 2010
- Industry Corner 2011
- Festival Industry Sessions From 2011
- Industry Corner 2012
- Festival Industry Sessions From 2012
- Industry Corner 2013
- Festival Industry Sessions From 2013
- Industry Corner 2014
- Hot Docs Industry Sessions Knowledge Capture
- Industry Resources
- Resources to be used in conjunction with video captured 2013 industry sessions.
- Educators
- Doc Library films with educational resources for high school.
- Inspirit Foundation
- Docs about pluralism and diversity of beliefs
- Filmmaker Interviews
- Interviews and Q&A's
- AIDS/HIV
- Aids/HIV Docs
- THE PLIGHT OF HOMELESSNESS
- Docs on Homelessness
- FOR MUSIC LOVERS
- Docs for Music Lovers
- Canadiana
- Films about Canada
- LOVE, THE MANY DOCUMENTED THING.
- Docs About Love
- DEALING WITH DISABILITY
- Docs on Dealing with Disabilities
- GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY
- Docs on Aging
- THE WONDER YEARS?
- Films about Growing Up
- CANADA’S OWN WONDER OF THE WORLD
- Niagara Falls
- DEATH IN ALL ITS FORMS
- Films About Dealing with Death