Movies on DEMENTIA
July 5, 2022
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I have just celebrated my 76th birthday (June 23) and I am now at an age where the dreadful condition called dementia may already be looming in the horizon.

Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.

Because dementia is a general term, its symptoms can vary widely from person to person. People with dementia have problems with:

Fortunately, dementia does not automatically come with old age. Many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as:

Normally, knowledge and experiences built over the years, old memories, and language would stay intact.

I feel like I'm already in this category.

I have collected 4 movies about dementia. You may want to watch them and have the idea of how it feels and looks when the time comes.

Which you won't remember, anyway.

2004
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2020

1 THE NOTEBOOK

In 1940s Seabrook, North Carolina, wealthy city girl Allie Hamilton falls for passionate, working-class Noah Calhoun. Their intense summer romance is cut short by Allie's parents, who deem Noah unsuitable.

Years later, engaged to a respectable soldier, Allie discovers Noah has meticulously restored an old house, fulfilling a dream they once shared. Torn between her past love and present commitment, Allie must choose. The story is framed by an elderly Noah reading their love story to Allie, now suffering from dementia, hoping to trigger her memories.

2 STILL MINE

The movie tells the true story of Craig Morrison, an octogenarian New Brunswick farmer. When his beloved wife, Irene, begins suffering from dementia, Craig decides to build a smaller, more accessible house on their land.

However, his efforts are met with stubborn resistance from a bureaucratic building inspector who insists on strict adherence to modern codes. Despite Craig's lifelong experience and superior craftsmanship, he faces fines and stop-work orders. The film beautifully intertwines this battle against red tape with a poignant portrayal of Craig and Irene's enduring love and their struggle against the indignities of aging.

3 STILL ALICE

The movie chronicles the devastating journey of Alice Howland, a renowned linguistics professor, diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease at 50. A woman whose identity is intrinsically linked to her intellect, Alice struggles to maintain her sense of self as her memory rapidly deteriorates.

The film poignantly portrays her personal battle against the disease's relentless progression, from forgetting words and getting lost, to losing her ability to recognize loved ones. It also explores the profound impact on her family, as they navigate the challenges of her illness and confront the genetic implications for themselves.

4 THE FATHER

The movie plunges the audience into the disorienting reality of Anthony, an elderly man grappling with dementia. His daughter, Anne, tries to care for him, but Anthony's perception of reality constantly shifts. People change faces, rooms morph, and events contradict each other, leaving both Anthony and the viewer questioning what is real.

He accuses Anne of stealing, insists he lives in his own flat despite being in hers, and struggles to comprehend that his beloved other daughter is no longer alive. The film masterfully portrays the terrifying confusion and profound loss of self that comes with cognitive decline.

SMApepe Movie Collection