Category Archives: grief

23 WALKS (2020)

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

OLD AGE AND CARE : Amour, Chronic, A Woman’s Tale

Autoethnography Isolated from family and friends under tier 4, unable to research with any enthusiasm I have decided to end the writing of 2020.But first I must come back to my blog of December 19th, where I touched on an … Continue reading

Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, alzheimer, audience responses, care, carers, death, euthanasia, Film Analysis, FILM RECEPTION, grief, horror films, love, old couple separation | Leave a comment

AWAY FROM HER (2008) and Still Alice (2014)

Of all couple separations the separation due to dementia can be the most painful. Major illnesses in a partner, a child are also difficult to live through. It is the erasing of the partner and his/her annihilation that is unbearably … Continue reading

Posted in Ageing, ageing couple, alzeihmer, alzheimer, care, care homes, Film Analysis, film noir, grief, horror films, old couple separation, three generations of women | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Death of Wife: Tokyo Story.

“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 | Leave a comment

Shoplifters (2018) – Palme d’Or Cannes – Director Kore-eda

I did not grasp all the richness of this film on my first viewing in the cinema. As a rule I make a point of not reading the reviews or synopsis before seeing a film. What struck me in the … Continue reading

Posted in Ageing, care, death, family, Film Analysis, food, grief, intergenerational relationships, love, motherhood, outsiders, sisters, three generations of women, tolerance, women's friendships | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

STILL WALKING (2008)

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

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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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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 | Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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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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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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 , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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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MARVIN’S ROOM (1996): Love and Care

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

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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

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