SUMMER MOVIE MIX: The realities of getting older in film

Hello KIRC family!

It is the weekend so for this Keeping It REAL Caregiving newsletter update, I started thinking about activities I would regularly include in my weekend plans – before caregiving took over my schedule.

One of my favorite relaxing things to do was go to the movies. My mother, Miss Nellie, always enjoyed that as well.

When I first moved her from Northern California to live near me in South Florida, that was probably the activity my mother did the most.

There was a little neighborhood theatre close enough to where she lived, that she could safely walk to catch a weekday matinee.

Those days feel like a lifetime ago. It was long before I truly understood what it would mean to watch my mother age, decline and ultimately leave us.

In honor of my mother’s love of catching a good flick, I would like to share a few of my favorite films within the space of aging.

These are movies which remind us that aging can bring massive life changes and we must plan and prepare in advance. They also remind us of just how fleeting life really is, and why we should enjoy all the moments along the journey.

Summer move mix

1. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I confess: I have seen this movie …oh, probably three times; maybe more. I LOVE the story, actors, characters, and the message.

For anyone who feels getting older means your life will no longer hold the promise of adventure and/or romance, watch this movie!

You’ll set off on an international journey, meet intriguing new friends and fall in love. Not to mention, with Judi Dench at the helm, how can you not have fun with this one?

What I love about The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the premise that we are never too old to learn, embrace life and squeeze every bit of joy out of the time we do have in this life.

2. Red

Starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren, RED truly drives home the point that aging doesn’t mean we lose our skills and abilities.

In the case of this film’s characters, they are trained assassins and have become even more precise in their work and emotions in carrying out jobs. Simply put, they are better with age!

And the title “R.E.D.”? That stands for Retired Extremely Dangerous. (love that!)

*Sadly and ironically, if you have do not keep up to date on Hollywood happenings, following the saga of the health decline of Bruce Willis is heart breaking.*

3. Still Alice

Alzheimer’s Disease impacts 55 million people around the world each year. That’s according to statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association.

The consequences for family members range in getting a proper diagnosis, medical care, caregiving assistance, and emotional support.

Watching Still Alice is a poignant reminder and for some, an introduction to the sobering realities of what an Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis could mean for individuals and their families.

The IMDb synopsis reads as follows:

Alice Howland is a renowned linguistics professor happily married with three grown children. All that begins to change when she strangely starts to forget words and then more. When her doctor diagnoses her with Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, Alice and her family’s lives face a harrowing challenge as this terminal degenerative neurological ailment slowly progresses to an inevitable conclusion they all dread.

This one stars Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin. It will touch your heart, will probably make you cry, but will also provide a bit of education.

3. Last Holiday

I’m going way back into the ‘fun movie vault’ for this one: Last Holiday.

Starring Queen Latifah and LL Cool J, this is a perfect ‘unplug and do nothing’ movie choice.

This is one of my favorite films because not only is it silly and improbable (in true Hollywood fashion), but it also reminds us to go after our dreams.

The plot: when our lead character receives a terminal diagnosis, she sets off to enjoy every last second of the seconds she has left.

That includes international travel, food, physical adventure and going after her hearts desire.

The end result is that she (and all of us) learn that when we embrace life without fear, we just might be surprised at what evolves.

I hope you have as much fun watching this one (again) as I always do!

I have several other movie titles I think you’ll like, and will share those in an upcoming post.

That’s all for now – have a great weekend and remember: be kind to yourself and each other.

Julia

*Header Image: Courtesy Getty Images/Klaus Vedfelt

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