Category Archives: Ageism

23 WALKS (2020)

Posted on February 27, 2021 by rinaross

How I miss my older-women-in film groups. Both the Brent U3A one and the Ealing Oldies Network group. Both groups were very well attended (no fewer than 8 in bad weather and up to 40 people per session) by older … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, alzheimer, audience responses, care homes, carers, critics, dementia, family, FILM RECEPTION, grief | 1 Comment

Death of Wife: Tokyo Story.

Posted on August 24, 2020 by rinaross

“Critics have frequently observed that Ozu Yasujiro’s Tokyo monogatari (Tokyo Story, 1953) was inspired by Leo McCarey’s Make Way for Tomorrow (1937). David Bordwell sees Ozu as “recasting” the American film – borrowing from it, adapting it – and briefly … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, classic, classic film, critics, death, family, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION, grief, intergenerational relationships, old couple separation | Tagged Ozu | Leave a comment

EPILOGUE (HAYUTA VE BERL) 2012

Posted on April 13, 2020 by rinaross

March 1st. 2020 I was looking for a film to present to our Secular Jewish group and I suddenly thought of EPILOGUE dir: Amir Manor shown at the BFI festival in 2012 that had impressed me. Amour and Quartet also … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, Ageism, critics, FILM RECEPTION, israel, marital disagreement | Tagged father son, israel, marital conflict, marital relationship, old couple, old people poverty, racism, suicide | 1 Comment

QUARTET (2012)

Posted on January 29, 2020 by rinaross

It was a pleasure to meet again with EON members (Ealing Over 60 Network) to watch a film together. I chose Quartet (2012) for this session. There were 21 people. As usual male presence was of 3 only. Personally I … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, alzheimer, audience responses, care homes, critics, FILM RECEPTION, love | Tagged Alzheimer's, Billi Connoly, friendship, Michael Gambon, music, musicians, Pauline Collins, stage fright, Tom Courtenay | Leave a comment

STILL WALKING (2008)

Posted on August 20, 2019 by rinaross

Still Walking (2008) As with some family reunions, my second viewing of Still Walking was quite painful. I saw it at home with a cousin with whom I had shared family reunions in my youth. Her general comment was: there … Continue reading →

Posted in ageing couple, Ageism, Conferences and comments, family, food, grief | Tagged adopted child, class snobishness., family conflicts, father/son relationships, food, grandfather, grandmother, grief, mother daughter relationship, prejudices, unresolved grief | Leave a comment

POETRY (2010) -2-

Posted on August 13, 2019 by rinaross

Recently, a friend recommended Lucy Bolton’s chapter The Intertextual Stardom of Iris: Winslet, Dench, Murdoch, and Alzheimer’s Disease,Feminisms: Diversity, Difference and Multiplicity in Contemporary Film Cultures (2015). This took me years back before I started my blog. Coming back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, Ageism, alzheimer, care, critics, death, family | Tagged 66 year old woman, Azheimer, carer/cleaner, corruption, gangrape, poetry, policeman, rape, suicide, teenagers | Leave a comment

Ali Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Posted on February 15, 2019 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman – Chu

Posted on January 11, 2019 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

THE WIFE (2017)

Posted on October 27, 2018 by rinaross

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 | 3 Comments

HOTEL SALVATION (2016)

Posted on August 20, 2018 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

Mrs. Caldicot’s Cabbage War (2002)

Posted on August 4, 2018 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

SUMMER REFLECTIONS on films featuring old women.

Posted on July 23, 2018 by rinaross

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 | 4 Comments

AFTER LIFE (1998) Life review

Posted on May 9, 2018 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

EALING OLDIES NETWORK FILM SESSION

Posted on March 27, 2018 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

OSCARS 2018, SEXISM, AGEISM

Posted on March 6, 2018 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

TELL ME A RIDDLE (1980)

Posted on December 20, 2017 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

The Hundred Foot Journey (2014)

Posted on October 8, 2017 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

MOTHER AND SON Gentleman’s Agreement (1947)

Posted on September 20, 2017 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

MARVIN’S ROOM (1996): Love and Care

Posted on July 13, 2017 by rinaross

It is the end of the U3A summer term for the U3A Old Women in Film Group. I had put aside, to consider later, Marvin’s Room (1996) Screenplay by Scott McPherson (1959-1992), based on his own play. With : Diane Keaton … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, care, critics, Film Analysis, grief | Tagged actors, AIDS, aunt, beauty, black humour, bone marrow transplant, care, dependence, Diane Keaton, disablement, dying, empathy, family, feminism, food, Gwen Verdon, Hume Cronyn, humour, intergeneration, Leonardo Di Caprio, leukaemia, Meryl Streep, reviews, Robert de Niro, sisters, tv, TV soaps, women | Leave a comment

Make Mine Mink (1960) at the Ealing Oldies Network meeting.

Posted on June 6, 2017 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

HOW WE ‘CONSUME’ CINEMA

Posted on December 6, 2016 by rinaross

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

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. An older woman’s view.

Posted on November 14, 2016 by rinaross

When I first saw Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, years ago I did not record my thoughts or the film group’s. I just remember that I had a strong feeling that Fassbinder explored ageing and ageism as well as racism … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, Ageism, critics | Tagged Ageism, arabic music, bar, being seen, betrayals, body, communication, family, fassbinder, fiction, film reviews, food, foreign workers, isolation, love, melodrama, moroccan customs, mother and daughter, mother and son, old woman young man, racism, reviews, seeing, tenderness, women, working women | 2 Comments

ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL.

Posted on October 30, 2016 by rinaross

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 | 1 Comment

AGEISM IN HOLLYWOOD.

Posted on October 2, 2016 by rinaross

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 →

Posted in Ageing, Ageism, FILM RECEPTION | Tagged actor's date of birth, actors, Ageing, ageing actors male and female, Ageism, film reception, film the guardian, Lilian Gish, looks, media, Patrick Kennedy, representation old woman | Leave a comment

THE RARE AND RIDICULE. Ageism in Hollywood popular films.

Posted on September 26, 2016 by rinaross

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 | Leave a comment

Chronic: palliative care or a man’s portrait?

Posted on July 29, 2016 by rinaross

Holidays. Time to reflect on some questions I asked myself after a few viewings. In my post about Wrinkles I wrote: “But one cannot help being intrigued by the predominantly male atmosphere of the film when it is common knowledge that … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, animation, critics | Tagged Ageing, Ageism, amour, assisted suicide], carer, caring, death, end of life care, family, film reception, intergeneration, intimate care, Naked bodies, palliative care, sexual abuse by carer | 3 Comments

MISS ROBIN HOOD (1952)

Posted on June 4, 2016 by rinaross

Report by Rita of the film group meeting on June 3rd. There were 8 of us at the session. General discussion Overall, the women in the group felt the film was not very enjoyable and engaging. We could see that … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, Ageism | Tagged 60 years actor, Ageing, Ageism, Agewise., british comedies, grotesque old woman in film, intergeneration, Margaret Rutherford, wrinkles | Leave a comment

TATIE DANIELLE (1990)

Posted on May 12, 2016 by rinaross

This is the third group of older women who viewed and discussed the film apart from the 101 U3A members (see previous post in 2005 and resources for the BFI Guide to Older Women in Film). I was surprised again … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, Ageism, critics, FILM RECEPTION | Tagged abuse of older people, Ageing, Ageism, black comedy, carer, family, film reception, grandmother, grotesque old woman in film, old people incontinence, representation old woman | Leave a comment

The Real Marigold Hotel. BBC2

Posted on February 23, 2016 by rinaross

Not a feature film but a celebrity BBC show. I hate reality ‘shows’ and their all-knowing voice over, but I should have signposted this one earlier. These three episodes, with the references to the appalling silly feature films of similar name, are well worth watching. … Continue reading →