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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
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
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
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
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, classic, classic film, death, family, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION, grief, love, outsiders
Tagged Angelopoulos, bus, childhood, couple, death, dementia, exile, family home, flashbacks, introspections, last days, love, memories, mother, poems, poet, refugee children, refugees, sea and drowning, selling of children, the sea, time frame in films
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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
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
Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, Ageism, audience responses, classic, Film Analysis
Tagged fassbinder, foreign worker, looks, love, objectivisation, prejudice
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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
Posted in Ageing, family, FILM RECEPTION, love, sisters, women's friendships
Tagged (Imelda Staunton, actors, affair, Ageing, ageing sisters, Ageism, british comedies, Celia Imrie, David Hayman, death, family, film reception, Joanna Lumley, lifestyle, marriage break up, old people dancing, reviews, Timothy Spall
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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
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, Ang Lee, care, family, Film Analysis, food, grief, intergenerational relationships, love, murder, women's friendships
Tagged And Lee
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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
Posted in Ageing, Ang Lee, classic film, fable, food, grief, love, melodrama, three generations of women, women's friendships
Tagged Ageing, Ageism, daughter, death, family, father/daughter relationships, film reception, FOOD CHINESE, grandmother, grief, grotesque old woman in film, humour, intergeneration, old woman, representation old woman, students and teacher
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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
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, death, family, FILM RECEPTION, food, intergenerational relationships, melodrama
Tagged Ageing, Ang Lee, carer, cooking, eating rituals, family, father daughters relationships, film reception, food, grandmother, grotesque old woman in film, humour, intergeneration, lifestyle, master chef, memories, widower
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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
Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, audience responses, critics, family, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION, melodrama
Tagged comedy, death, family, film interpretation, Glenn Close, housewife, humour, husband/wife relationship, kermode, melodrama, music, nobel prize, Peter Bradshaw, reviews, strong woman, Stuart Hall, writers
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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
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, classic, family, food
Tagged Ang Lee, Buddhism, culture clash, family, film club, food, generation clash, humour, lifestyle, photos, Tai chi master
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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.
Posted in Ageing, classic, documentary, intergenerational relationships
Tagged Ageing, agnes varda, dockers, feel good, feminism, humour, image, JR, life, media, photography, photos, Rural france, vision problems, women
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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
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, death, family, FILM RECEPTION, food, grief
Tagged arranged marriage, Buddhism, cremation, end of life, family, father/son relationship, film reviews, food, Granddaugher/grandfather relationship, history, humour, India, life, lifestyle, male point of view, resurection, reviews, varanasi, women
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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
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, care, death, fable, family, FILM RECEPTION, grief
Tagged after life, arranged marriage, Ballad of Narayama, cremation, death, family, father/son relationships, Hindu beliefs, humour, scooter, The Gange, varanasi
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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
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, audience responses, care homes, critics, family, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged abuse of old people, Ageism, Atul Gawande, care home, family, food, humour, interviews, media, retirement home, reviews, sexism
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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
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
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, audience responses, critics, death, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION
Tagged Ageism, All About Eve, media, Old women in films, Pather Panchali, reviews, Volver
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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
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
Posted in Ageing, family
Tagged Ageing, David Lynch, determination, family, memories, mend the past, Sheila Hancock, wrinkles
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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
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, death, family, Film Analysis, film making, grief, guilt, love
Tagged death, family, history, interviews, Kore-eda, life, life review, love, memories, photos, reviews, women
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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
Posted in Ageing, Ageism, critics
Tagged actors, age, Ageing, Ageism, gender, representation, representation old woman
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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
Posted in Ageing, Ageism
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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
Posted in Ageing, audience responses, death, family, FILM RECEPTION, grief, motherhood, murder, three generations of women, women's friendships
Tagged abuse, almodavar, cemetery, family, food, humour, incest, lifestyle, music, violence, women, women resilience
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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
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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Old Age and Feature Films 