Category Archives: Ageing

STILL WALKING (2008)

This is an aide-memoir about Kore-eda wonderful film. I have to wait until a DVD is made available so I can relish again with more focus on the old married couple and their mixed feelings about their children and family … Continue reading

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HANNAH (2018)

I missed seeing Hannah (2018) on the big screen. This film co-funded by Euroimages of the Council of Europe did not get a wide distribution in London but a friend alerted me.  She recommended the most depressing film about an … Continue reading

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THE MOTHER (2003) revisited

Thoughts of P. Case member of the Ealing Over 60 Network. Pam could not stay for the discussion. She was not present when I had mentioned that some academics proposed that the film provoke our prior conceptions and values that … Continue reading

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ETERNITY AND A DAY (1998)

There is a huge difference between my reactions to Eternity and a Day in my early 60s and now at 84. In 1998 Central Station was also released . At the time I focused my attentionon the representation of old … Continue reading

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“Time Goes By” quote: Ronni Bennett on films

In the media hubbub surrounding the recent Academy Awards, I saw a headline announcing that movie producers are now embracing older actors and stories about old people. No, they are not – not unless their name is Judi Dench or … Continue reading

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SWEET BEANS (2015)

I have been unable to attend the Brent U3A Film Group for a while but did manage it this month and saw Sweet Bean (2015). I had missed it at London Film Festival three years ago and looked forward to … Continue reading

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Ali Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Fear eats the soul at EON (1974) Attendance at the film session was 25 this month. Unfortunately my voice recorder failed me and I am unable to report objectively on  the very astute, lively, animated  contributions. All the aspects of … Continue reading

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Finding Your Feet (2018)

Two films about old people attracted my attention this week: Finding Your Feet (2018) and Eternity And A Day (1998). I had seen the latter 19-20 years ago but I only remembered the two characters : an old man and a … Continue reading

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Eat, Drink, Man, Woman – Chu

Eat Drink Man Woman (referred to as EDMW) is described by the majority of reviewers as a film about a clash between Father and Daughters, between Tradition and Modernity. Few have commented on Chu as an old man. EDMW is … Continue reading

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CARAMEL (2007)

Caramel 2018  One of the EON friend (a woman with a Lebanese background)  suggested we viewed Labaki’s Caramel   as ‘feel good’ film for the end of year.  Given my background (see post 2012 ) I was very surprised by … Continue reading

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EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN (1994) film genres…

  My Father was the centre of the family, and everybody tried to please him. My Mother loves me and everything goes well. I have no conflict whith her, so that’s not dramatic. Ang Lee  Why was I not offended by … Continue reading

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EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN (1994) at EON

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) at EON  I mentioned in this blog that I would not concentrate any more on the representation of  old women in films but widen my interest and abandon the time-consuming film analysis approach.    After … Continue reading

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THE WIFE (2017)

I saw The Wife  on the big screen with my partner and a friend (male) the three of us over 80 years old.  It was remarkable that the three of us had to say something immediately at the end, even … Continue reading

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CINEMAS, FILMS AND AGEING

Cinema, Films and Ageing. I have been running old women film groups for the last twenty years and blogging about the representation of the old woman in feature films for the last ten years. My relationship with cinemas, film, film … Continue reading

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FACES PLACES (VISAGES VILLAGES) (2017)

If you are interested in old age and cinema do not miss  Agnes Varda and JR film released this week in London. Any comments from my part would be superfluous. The film speaks for itself.  

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HOTEL SALVATION (2016) at EON

18 members present 15 stayed for the discussion The discussion was extremely interesting, nearly unanimous in praising the film. Only two people were very critical. One objected to the way the old man manipulated his son, the other was very … Continue reading

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HOTEL SALVATION (2016)

This is not about the representation of an old woman in films but my personal  – as an old woman –  take on Hotel Salvation.  I fail to see why this film has been so praised by   influential reviewers. … Continue reading

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Mrs. Caldicot’s Cabbage War (2002)

Before I write about the EON (Ealing Over 60 network) film session Mrs. Caldicot’s Cabbage War I would like to quote again the most outrageously sexist/ageist example in journalism that I have encountered in my extensive reading about films.   … Continue reading

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To my followers

To my followers: Thank you for the  comments on my last blog encouraging me to carry on writing about films and old women.  By a curious coincidence I found the real reason for my weariness. It is not only the … Continue reading

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SUMMER REFLECTIONS on films featuring old women.

Too hot to think clearly. Too hot to sit for a long time looking at the screen. Too hot to remember the times spent talking about ageing and films. The laughs and  heated discussions.   My friends long departed. Is … Continue reading

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FILMS – DEMENTIA – LOCAL CINEMAS

Cinememories at the Phoenix There are many films about dementia. Most of them are documentaries but there are also more or less  accurate and enlightening feature films with famous actors.  I came across an inspiring project in London: the use … Continue reading

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AFTER LIFE (2008)-2 . Social realism.

Having looked at Kore-eda’s (K-E) exploration of some aspects of memories in After Life (1998) I am left with an insatiable need to investigate the content of these memories. It is a difficult task to unravel the documentary from the … Continue reading

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THE STRAIGHT STORY at ‘EON’ AND EDIE

A full house again at the Ealing Oldies Network (EON). The Straight Story (1999) elicited an interesting exchange of views. It took some time to discover Lynch’s oblique way of exposing deep issues by visual means, discover Alvin’s back story, … Continue reading

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AFTER LIFE (1998) Life review

When I started blogging about films and older women in 1999 I was determined to be as thorough in my research and detailed about my analyses in order to be considered more than an amateur reviewer. At the age of … Continue reading

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EALING OLDIES NETWORK FILM SESSION

Our March film session at the Ealing Oldies Network was poorly attended due to the snow and treacherous slippery streets. My need to go back home early was imperative. There were only 8 women present and I decided to talk … Continue reading

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OSCARS 2018, SEXISM, AGEISM

I have never been enthralled by the Oscar ceremonies and awards and have rarely followed the news about the overinflated and nauseating event. Yesterday however two links were brought to my attention. https://www.nextavenue.org/academy-awards-2018-oscars-ageist/ https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/photos/2018/03/2018-vanity-fair-oscars-seliger-portrait-studio? I will not declare that AGEISM … Continue reading

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VOLVER (2006) Ealing Oldies Network

  Full house again at the EON : 14 women, 4 men for Volver A very dense and complex discussion difficult to convey due to the variety of themes summarised here. Two women had seen the film before. Two immediate … Continue reading

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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

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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

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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

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