Seniors Citizens are my friends

Last night, I watched a documentary called Memory for Max, Claire, Ida and Company. It's about a group of seniors at an old-age home and examines the deterioration of their memory and the emotional difficulties they endure while at the facility. It is heartbreaking. I cried four times. What was most impressive was despite the occassional failing of their mental faculties, their personalities always come through, which says a lot about the human character. It is a beautiful movie and one that forces us to look at something we all seem to avoid. It is so sad that these people's lives are ending with such loneliness.

The director, Allan King, is a noted filmmaker whose career stretches back to the 60s. He is known for working in the cinéma verité style, providing no narration and just letting the camera document the action. The editing provides a sort of narration along with the subjects themselves. At it's best, this method can be very engaging, as with Memory.... An aside: I find it telling that Canada has a long tradition of documentary making, while our southern neighbour is renowned for fantastical spectacles. Food for thought?

Anyway, the point of this post is simple: hug a grandpa/ma today, folks.