Category Archives: critics

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Make Way for Tomorrow. Blatant Ageism in film guide.

Posted on October 8, 2015 by rinaross

Make Way For Tomorrow (MWFT) was added to the America’s National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2010. America’s Film Legacy (2011) by Daniel Eagan …is a reference guide to the most significant films ever made in the United States. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ageing, Ageism, critics | Tagged ageing couple, ageist critics, America's National Film Registry, American Film Legacy, critics, Daniel Egan, film critics, film guide, grandmother, intergeneration, mother and son, representation old woman | Leave a comment