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Author Archives: rinaross
Note of comments ‘Pather Panchali’ – Ealing Oldies Network (EON) 22 Jan 2018
About twenty attended. One, who had seen it before, found the film engaged her in the same way as when she’d first seen it. Comments, as main themes, were: Much more than a story: the forest, nature, land, water/the well, … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, classic film, family
Tagged family, food, housing, nature, old aunt, poverty, women
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Pather Panchali in Ealing
18 enthusiastic people attended the fifth film session of the Ealing Oldies Network (EON): Pather Panchali (1955). The post viewing session was very lively and everybody participated and shared feelings and thoughts. (Notes not available). What was remarkable for me … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, audience responses, classic film, family, FILM RECEPTION, grief, motherhood
Tagged Apu trilogy, family, image, music, women
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OLD WOMEN AND HORROR FILMS
In the 18/01/2018 issue of The Guardian, Anne Bilson examines the Old Woman in Horror Films and coins the word “hagsploitation”. I admit I have paid no attention to these films in my research. The genre has never appealed … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, horror films
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TELL ME A RIDDLE (1980)
10 years ago I put aside, to watch later, the newly released Tell me a Riddle (1980) dvd. I just found it lost amongst some books. I could not resist letting go the boring Xmas preparations and taking a peep … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, critics
Tagged actors, ageing couple, body, family, feminism, flashbacks, history, image, nighmares, photos, political engagement, reviews
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Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2017)
Just a note to add the above to Ageing Actor category. Also the second film this season for breast cancer to be in the picture. (The other film being Aquarius).
Posted in Ageing
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The films of Gloria Grahame
Good at Being Bad: The films of Gloria Grahame. It is the title of a series of films featuring Gloria Grahame showing at the National Film Theatre. Nothing to do with Old Women and Film but I needed to signal … Continue reading
Posted in classic film, film noir, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged film noir, Gloria Graham, love story, male violence, Nicholas Ray, suspicion
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AQUARIUS (2016) partial analysis
In The Greater London Pensioner Association newsletter (October 2017) Judith Olley writes about the Representation of Older People on Film. It is refreshing to read about films from an older person’s viewpoint and I picked up two films that I … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, family, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION, motherhood, three generations of women
Tagged actors, Ageing, anger, beach, birthday, breast cancer, building, cancer, changing times, chemotherapy, corruption, daughter, family, friendship, group of old women, history, intergenerational relationship, laughing yoga, Long hair, maid, mastectomy, media, mother and son, mother/daughter, nephew, nepotism, orgy, photos, physical exercise, redevolpment, representation old woman, still doing it, termites invasion, tower blocks, vinyl records
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PAULINE AND PAULETTE (2001)
Third film at the Ealing Oldies Network. The 18 people present were enthusiastic. They appreciated the film and the exchange of views at the end was very lively and informed. It was evident that a few had some experience in … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, care, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged actors, amateur dramatics, care, care home, carer, caring, communication, family, flowers, learning difficulties, mother/daughter, nature, photos, representation old woman, retirement, reviews, shop keeper, sisters, small village, women
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AQUARIUS (2016)
A film that has probably one of the most fascinating, strong and magnetic female characters in cinema in recent years. Lucía Ros Serra Espinof At the age of 82 I have lived 53 years in our house. The tearoom, … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged communication, corruption, family, feminism, film reviews, flowers, grandmother, harassment, housing, humour, interviews, lifestyle, memories, music, old woman, photos, reviews
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MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW (1937)
It is a pleasure to present a classic film to a group of friends who take the responsibility of all arrangements for the viewing and documentation.. Of the 15 old people present none knew Make Way for Tomorrow but two … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, audience responses, classic film
Tagged audience responses, classic, couple separation, family, humour, kindness of strangers, Leo Carey, memories, Ozu
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The Hundred Foot Journey (2014)
The Hundred Foot Journey (2014) Michelin Star and Indian spices get together. or Tout est pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes possibles. Voltaire I always look at the DVDs on the supermarket shelves to see what is selling. … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, critics, fable, food
Tagged chefs, family, feel good film, food, French food, Helen Mirren, Indian actors, Indian cooking, Indian food, intergeneration, Lasses Halstrum, Michelin Star, racism, restaurant
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MOTHER AND SON Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)
Gentleman’s Agreement (1947) I was very surprised when I read Bradshaw’s article a few months ago. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/feb/15/best-picture-oscar-winners-gentlemans-agreement-1947 This film about anti-semitism is not considered as one of Kazan’s best work and Bradshaw’s choice has been criticised. This is not about … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, critics, documentary, Film Analysis, motherhood
Tagged actors, antisemitism, communication, family, film reviews, grandmother/grandson, HUAC, humour, interviews, lifestyle, media, mother/son relationship, reviews, tv, women
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SINCE OTAR LEFT (2003)
I decided at the end of the U3A year to retire from facilitating the Old Women in Films Group. I found that my energy diminished in sympathy with the attendance. In the meantime Ealing Oldies Network (EON see June’s … Continue reading
Make Mine Mink (1960) at the Ealing Oldies Network meeting.
I was asked by the Ealing Oldies Network to show them a film and lead the following discussion. EON is a friendship group of old people who meet locally every Monday. It is self organised, people share their knowledge and … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, festivals
Tagged Ageing, Ageism, british comedies, film reception, group of old women, representation old woman
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WOMEN AND WAR FILMS.
Delighted by Lone Scherfig’s Their Finest (2016), and intrigued by Sue Harper’s 1996 description of Great Day (1940) as a masterpiece, I attended the BFI for the screening of GD and two ‘shorts ‘ in the British Women and WWII … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing
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TOKYO STORY – film group responses
The film group ‘gut’ responses to Tokyo Story. The general discussion brought out many more subjects and comments. The overall impression was that the film was very relevant to our times. Sadness on the part of the father- just realising … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, FILM RECEPTION
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ON FILM STILLS, CLIPS AND REVIEWS
I recently obtained access to an academic library. Having a little time on my hands I decided to explore the subject of the representation of older women in films. The first article I came across is from Feminisms: Diversity, Difference … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing
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Grief and Guilt -The Straight Story and Manchester by the Sea
Again a brief post that does not deal with the representation of old women in feature films but since I wrote about The Straight Story (1999) 5 years ago I will consider Manchester by the Sea (2016). I find I have … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, Film Analysis, grief, guilt
Tagged accidental death, brothers, death of children, family, grandfather, grief, guilt, house on fire, image, men's film, nature, nephew, old age, stroke, teenagers, uncle
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HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971) 46 years later
I first showed the film (on VHS?) to a group of my friends around 1999 on the recommendation of one of the women. She mentioned that she saw it with her sons and they found it hilarious. My reaction … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing
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Caramel (2007)
The film group film this month was Caramel. I had presented it in 2011 at the Lexi cinema to a general audience at the U3A matinée. They loved the film. On release in 2007 the critics and reviewers were in … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, chick flick, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged Ageing, arabic, beauty salon, Beirut, Christian, communication, dementia, family, friendship, hair, humour, lebanon, lesbian, lifestyle, looks, lover, Moslem, periods, sisterhood, virginity, waxing, wedding, women
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HOW WE ‘CONSUME’ CINEMA
A member of our film group sent me a link to an article by Tom Lamont. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/dec/03/film-streaming-future-of-movie-going The 21st. century has seen a revolution in how we consume cinema, from streaming a movie the day it is released to forking … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, critics
Tagged accessibility, Ageism, bijou cinema, boutique cinema, hard of hearing, independent cinema, Lamont, Lexi, Phoenix, screens and accessibility, subtitles, u3a
5 Comments
The Barbarian Invasions (2003)
Not a film about an ageing woman but about a man dying of cancer. How come all the praise, the awards, the commercial success and the admiring critiques and reviews, I tend to agree with Peter Bradshaw (The Guardian 20/02/2004) and … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing
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ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL.
The film I chose for the old women in film group this month was Fassbinder’s Ali: Fear Eats The Soul (1974) . I saw it a long time ago with a group in the context of old women in film but at … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged Ageism, body, communication, family, food, foreign workers, isolation, loneliness, other, racism, women cleaner, young man/older woman couple
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A Korean film at the London Film Festival
This is just a signpost for the Korean film The Bachus Lady (2016) directed by E J-yong and featuring Youn Yuh-jung (aged 69) . I managed to catch it at the ICA the first day of the London Film Festival. I … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing
Tagged Ageing, assisted death, assisted suicide], death, intergeneration
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AGEISM IN HOLLYWOOD.
I was appalled to read in the Guardian 28/09/16 Short Cuts, under the title Is this a cure for ageist casting disasters?. “a landmark law, effective from next year, in California only, that permits actors to request the removal of … Continue reading
PAULINE AND PAULETTE (2001) film group responses
The Brent U3A film group looking at the representation of old women met again for the first session of the academic year. I was sad to note that there were no members of the original group alive anymore. But I … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, care, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged actors, Ageing, care and love, care home, communication, disablement, empathy, family, flowers, guilt, image, inheritance, music, operetta, sisters, women
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THE RARE AND RIDICULE. Ageism in Hollywood popular films.
The online Guardian of 14 Sept, headlined “Older characters underrepresentated and ridiculed in Hollywood”. Under a close-up of Helen Mirren’s face and neck unretouched showing her lines and wrinkles the article proceeds to report: …research conducted by the Media, … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, critics, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged 100 top grossing films 2015, Ageing, Ageism, best exotic marigold hotel, ethnic and sexual orientation of senior characters, film reception, gender, Hollywood, media, old people representation, popular films, senior characters
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FEMINISM, AGEING, AND FILMS
It is bizarre at the age of 81 to have a feeling of deja vu about the experience of seeing a film. And this is the only way I can explain my profound distaste of Chronic. I have tried to … Continue reading
Posted in Ageing, care
Tagged Ageing, assisted suicide], carer, caring, death, end of life care, family, feminism, grief, incontinence, old woman, voyeuristic style
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Old Age and Feature Films 