This film reminds me of something Ingmar Bergman would create around this issue. Lots of layers that make you think--in such a short format! Great job! My vision of the future of elder care is staying in our homes with care coming into the home. I think Boomers want independence along with keeping a sense of who they are in their community. We don't want to be treated like we are less significant--put away in a facility and forgotten. This film shakes us up to see what the reality could be. Thanks!
Overall an interesting film. The visuals, set, actors and props were creative and well done. It was good that you kept the story straightforward (blunt even). It is likely to stimulate discussion which was your intent. One question is about the vision of this as a possible or likely future care option. This seemed more surreal than I would anticipate - it almost seemed like the patient was going to be frozen (cryogenics?) for a future life! The music added to that feeling for me. I would think future issues to more likely revolve around overcrowding, resource shortages and degraded services. Have you heard this reaction from others who've seen it?
My mother and mother-in-law are age 94 and reside in nursing homes. The Journey Home facility makes their care appear first-class when it's just warehousing. The film reminds us that elder care can become the victim of efficiency, technology, and cost-effectiveness. Hopefully, the film will encourage public policy advocacy and private initiatives to create new community-based programs that reduce the negative aspects (illness, loneliness,dependency). Paul Arfin paularfin@gmail.com
Wow, it is amazing that you produced such a professional film on a low budget. The special effects were great, and I can see how it can be used for different classes, even if it is the same cohort.
Congratulations to you and your crew for the creation of this piece. The ideas in it haunted me and I am plagued with the question that is posed. No answers yet...
Keep making films that ask questions and open conversation!
The film was incredible. I really enjoyed the use of black and white. The music and sound effects were very mood setting as well. It was so important to me that she had on her bracelet and wedding ring, it really humanized the character and reminded me of what was left behind (family, grandchildren, spouse) even prior to her journey home.
For some reason her jewelry really made me ruminate on how lonely this process can be and how important it is to respect and give credit to who patients are individually.
The film is visually really beautiful and provocative. Thank you for creating something that will make us wake up and realize the enormity of what is about to take over our communities. If we are prepared each and every person will have quality of life well into old age. m.
I really enjoyed this film! The special effects were great and captured my attention all way through.
One thing that I kept feeling while watching this film though was lonliness for the woman. Even though staff had attempted to make her "journey home" one filled with memories, the whole process seemed inpersonal and detached. Very clinical/medical/and cold, much like a cold slab in a coroner's office.
It was so sad that no family or friends were present to help share this woman's memories; instead these memories were drug induced and facilitated through technology.
It's a reminder that while technological advancements are wonderful, nothing takes the place of good 'ol fashioned HUMAN interaction.
This film is a wake up call to everyone. It can be viewed as negative or positive depending on how much you can relate to what options are available to the elderly today.
I would gladly pick virtual memories and a quite setting compared to a warehouse nursing home. The smells, sounds, as well as the institutional mentality of making the all mighty dollar goes against the pretty brochures your family will see.
The bottom line is we come into the world alone and leave the same way. This film gives options and choices for our future. It is up to those who will need services to determine at what costs can we buy away guilt, emotions, dignity, and a life that still needs to be lived?
Great short film, sounds and special effects are great, and in keeping the dialog simple has freed the mind to fill in the blanks.
This very creative film is an eye opener! We all have someone special in our life that is older and wants the best for them. Living in a world that cold and empty is not a great way to live out their elderly years.
This film is quite an eye opener. The fact that this lady only had her memories at the end of life is good however there is a lack of human compassion, even limited human touch. At what point were these specific memories captured or were they memories that were actually present at the moment?
Where is the dignity, the respect and the wisdom that comes with the contributions that have been been during a lifetime?
Thanks for presenting the opportunity to really think about how end of life could be.
This film was realistic of what our future elder-care will emulate if no respectable changes occur to public policies on aging and/or caring for an approaching increased population. There was disconnection between the professional and patient, so much that care did not appear to be implemented. I watched this film numerous times assuming I was overreacting to the scarceness of human race within this setting. The reality is the film is innovative towards possible truths and the consequences of not taking this matter serious. The gravity of the film is self explanatory, where is the reverence for making ones transition home? How can one begin to fathom allowing technology to totally capture our being and just page us from one patient to the next?
This film was very artistic with a powerful message. Thanks, for sharing this with your students.
This film reminds me of something Ingmar Bergman would create around this issue. Lots of layers that make you think--in such a short format! Great job! My vision of the future of elder care is staying in our homes with care coming into the home. I think Boomers want independence along with keeping a sense of who they are in their community. We don't want to be treated like we are less significant--put away in a facility and forgotten. This film shakes us up to see what the reality could be. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOverall an interesting film. The visuals, set, actors and props were creative and well done. It was good that you kept the story straightforward (blunt even). It is likely to stimulate discussion which was your intent. One question is about the vision of this as a possible or likely future care option. This seemed more surreal than I would anticipate - it almost seemed like the patient was going to be frozen (cryogenics?) for a future life! The music added to that feeling for me. I would think future issues to more likely revolve around overcrowding, resource shortages and degraded services. Have you heard this reaction from others who've seen it?
ReplyDeleteMy mother and mother-in-law are age 94 and reside in nursing homes. The Journey Home facility makes their care appear first-class when it's just warehousing. The film reminds us that elder care can become the victim of efficiency, technology, and cost-effectiveness. Hopefully, the film will encourage public policy advocacy and private initiatives to create new community-based programs that reduce the negative aspects (illness, loneliness,dependency).
ReplyDeletePaul Arfin
paularfin@gmail.com
Wow, it is amazing that you produced such a professional film on a low budget. The special effects were great, and I can see how it can be used for different classes, even if it is the same cohort.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and your crew for the creation of this piece. The ideas in it haunted me and I am plagued with the question that is posed. No answers yet...
Keep making films that ask questions and open conversation!
The film was incredible. I really enjoyed the use of black and white. The music and sound effects were very mood setting as well. It was so important to me that she had on her bracelet and wedding ring, it really humanized the character and reminded me of what was left behind (family, grandchildren, spouse) even prior to her journey home.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason her jewelry really made me ruminate on how lonely this process can be and how important it is to respect and give credit to who patients are individually.
The film is visually really beautiful and provocative.
Thank you for creating something that will make us wake up and realize the enormity of what is about to take over our communities. If we are prepared each and every person will have quality of life well into old age. m.
I really enjoyed this film! The special effects were great and captured my attention all way through.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I kept feeling while watching this film though was lonliness for the woman. Even though staff had attempted to make her "journey home" one filled with memories, the whole process seemed inpersonal and detached. Very clinical/medical/and cold, much like a cold slab in a coroner's office.
It was so sad that no family or friends were present to help share this woman's memories; instead these memories were drug induced and facilitated through technology.
It's a reminder that while technological advancements are wonderful, nothing takes the place of good 'ol fashioned HUMAN interaction.
-Rosalind S.
This film is a wake up call to everyone. It can be viewed as negative or positive depending on how much you can relate to what options are available to the elderly today.
ReplyDeleteI would gladly pick virtual memories and a quite setting compared to a warehouse nursing home. The smells, sounds, as well as the institutional mentality of making the all mighty dollar goes against the pretty brochures your family will see.
The bottom line is we come into the world alone and leave the same way. This film gives options and choices for our future. It is up to those who will need services to determine at what costs can we buy away guilt, emotions, dignity, and a life that still needs to be lived?
Great short film, sounds and special effects are great, and in keeping the dialog simple has freed the mind to fill in the blanks.
This very creative film is an eye opener! We all have someone special in our life that is older and wants the best for them. Living in a world that cold and empty is not a great way to live out their elderly years.
ReplyDeleteI thought the film was visually very beautiful and thought provoking. The use of black and white was stunning.
ReplyDeleteIf this film were shown to a classroom I would ask, can the future of care look like this with the way our policy and economy is set up?
How do we begin to start planning to care for our aging population as a society so that everyone's needs are met?
I very much liked that the main character had her jewelry on it made her very real to me.
Thank you Dr. G. for sharing this amazing movie, minnie
This film is quite an eye opener. The fact that this lady only had her memories at the end of life is good however there is a lack of human compassion, even limited human touch. At what point were these specific memories captured or were they memories that were actually present at the moment?
ReplyDeleteWhere is the dignity, the respect and the wisdom that comes with the contributions that have been been during a lifetime?
Thanks for presenting the opportunity to really think about how end of life could be.
Sandra
This film was realistic of what our future elder-care will emulate if no respectable changes occur to public policies on aging and/or caring for an approaching increased population. There was disconnection between the professional and patient, so much that care did not appear to be implemented. I watched this film numerous times assuming I was overreacting to the scarceness of human race within this setting. The reality is the film is innovative towards possible truths and the consequences of not taking this matter serious. The gravity of the film is self explanatory, where is the reverence for making ones transition home? How can one begin to fathom allowing technology to totally capture our being and just page us from one patient to the next?
ReplyDeleteThis film was very artistic with a powerful message. Thanks, for sharing this with your students.