I am looking for what you think are the best videos/films that capture the truth of the caregiving experience. Not looking for idealized stuff but rather material that is authentic and largely unvarnished. I am very interested in content that makes use of the voices of the people involved in partnering rather than lectures by “specialists.”
Julie Winokur’s videos (Sandwich Generation, Losing Herbie) are along the lines of what I am searching for.
Thoughts?
Millions of middle-aged Americans are caring for their children as well as their aging parents. When filmmaker-photographer pair Julie Winokur and Ed Kashi took in Winokur’s 83-year-old father, they decided to document their own story. See the project at http://mediastorm.com/publication/the-sandwich-generation
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In addition to Iris and Amour (both excellent films), here are a few more for your review. (Ikiru and Shower are not really caregiver-related; they’re good films about aging though).
Away From Her
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491747/
The Savages
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0775529/
Ikiru
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044741/
Shower
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215369/
These last two are documentaries. I’m sure you’ve already seen the Frontline. And perhaps also the Brave Old World? It’s primarily a website. But there are some short docs on it that are good. I discovered the site from The New Old Age blog.
Frontline: “Living Old”
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/livingold/
Brave Old World
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
http://columbia.news21.com/2010/
http://columbia.news21.com/2010/
“More Than Me” is a documentary about former SNL castmember Jim Breuer’s cross-country comedy tour with his 84-year old father along for the ride. Breuer’s introduction to caregiving was incredibly inspiring.
http://longevityrules.blogspot.com/2012/11/breuer-documentary-more-than-me-to.html
Dr. Bill, The Sandwich Generation documentary reminds me of my family and is really telling of what caregiving is like, how precious a gift and how extremely tiring it can be. Even though I don’t live with my grandma now, just juggling a new baby, helping to keep her company, work and more, it is alot. But, with that said, I am so glad for the opportunity to love my grandma. =)
Iris to me was one of the most moving depictions of Care. Recently saw the French film Amour – astounding portrayal of true, deep loving care.
Lorenzo’s Oil
great story telling…. so important… Bravo to these folks for stepping up to do the work of loving unconditionally….
The Forgetting on PBS, which is based on the book by the same name. It follows a handful of people through various stages of Alzheimer’s. http://www.pbs.org/theforgetting/
I like this short video of a mother and daughter: http://soulbiographies.com/a-life-beyond/
If you were looking for MEMOIRS about the unvarnished caregiving experience, I recommend several under the Resources section of my book’s website, http://www.insidedementia.com.
–author, “Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Daughter’s Memoir”
go onto my FB profile and link to Clarendon House. Our home has some wonderful pics of our residents and carers in action!
I just watched these again Bill and they are so raw and touching. Thanks for sharing. I’ll keep my eyes open for you.