Old people in the movies

After all my serious messages from Geneva and after a whole week of hard work, I would like to write about something less formal: old people and movies. It is this week filmfestival in Rotterdam and I am a bit jealous that many people can spend the whole week just watching films from all over the world. For the first time in 10 years I will see less than 10 films. Just this Saturday I can go to 2 films.

The reason to write something about ageing and film is that you can learn a lot about ageing and health just by going to the cinema. Recently a very interesting film on the topic draw much attention: 'Amour' by Michael Haneke. George and Anne are in their 80s and both retired music teachers. One day Anne has a stroke and George has to take care of her. You will have to see the movie yourself to learn what that means for her, himself and the kids. The film got many good reviews and is worth seeing.

But there are many more films with this theme and that offer a less western orientation. Just consider many movies in the Rottterdam filmfestival. Last year I saw 'A simple life' by Ann Hui from Hong Kong. The story is about a rich Hong Kong inhabitant who has always been cared for by his housekeeper. Suddenly he has to look after her when she gets old and ill. Equally well acted as Amour and giving the different perspective of care for old people in Asia.

Other films that I have not yet seen and sometimes much shorter than full feature films are 'Ageing 1986 - 1996' by Hironi Tsushida (4 minutes, Japan), 'my dad is 100 years old' (hommage to Roberto Rossellini by his daughter, director of films as Roma and Viaggio and married to Ingrid Bergman) and 'The future is getting old like the rest of us' by Beatrice Gibson with 8 monologues set in old peoples' homes.

It is not just about people getting sick and needing help suddenly. In 'Old woman' (Singapore 2005) the old woman has had enough. She is lonely and has nothing to live for. Then suddenly there is a baby on the doorstep and she has to look after her. 'An old man' by Hai Bo from China tells a similar story for an old Chinese man.

And finally, the most famous of all must be 'No country for old men' by the Coen brothers. This must be an interesting film for the Japanese minister of Finance who came in the news this week by saying that old people could better hurry up and die instead of using precious health care resources.

Do you know about other examples of films on ageing and old people? Just let me know. For now I wish you all a pleasant weekend with hopefully lots of movies or other exciting things.