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Speakers of the calibre of David Knoff, the expedition leader stranded with his team in Antarctic during COVID, can regularly be heard at this global institution that places a premium on knowledge, not qualifications.
Five of the best films about senior citizens
Hollywood likes the hot young actors, which is great for the millennials and zoomers. For retirees, however, it can feel like the big studios are overlooking them. Thankfully, there are some great films out there that do an excellent job of representing senior citizens, their interests and concerns.
Five of the best are:
Up (2009)
Up https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049413/ is an animated film that tells the story of Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old widower who fulfils his lifelong dream of flying to South America by tying thousands of balloons to his house. Yes, animated movies are often associated with youth even more than other types of film, but Up is an exception, and offers a heartwarming and hilarious film that explores themes of grief, friendship, and adventure.
The Bucket List (2007)
The Bucket List https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/ is a comedy-drama film that follows the journey of Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), two terminally ill men who escape from a hospital and embark on a road trip to do the things they have always wanted to do before they die. Their bucket list includes skydiving, visiting the Taj Mahal, and driving a Shelby Mustang. It’s an exceptional film that really speaks to anxieties that many senior citizens feel. And anything with Morgan Freeman in it must be good.
Red (2010)
Red https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245526/ proves that big action is not just for the young. The crux of this film is that it’s a action spy thriller… only that it also features Hollywood’s favourite senior citizens, including Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman. Red is a reminder that seniors still feel young at heart, and enjoy the same adrenaline rushes as anyone else. It’s also very funny.
Cocoon (1985)
Cocoon https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088933/ is another Academy Award-winning film. This science fiction film centres on a group of elderly residents of a retirement home who discover that the swimming pool they use is filled with alien pods that grant them rejuvenation and vitality. They soon become involved in a conflict between the aliens and a group of government agents who want to capture them. Cocoon is a film that mixes humour, drama, and fantasy, and explores the themes of aging, mortality, and youth.
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Driving Miss Daisy https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097239/ is a drama film that chronicles the relationship between Daisy Werthan, a wealthy Jewish widow, and Hoke Colburn, her African American chauffeur, over a span of 25 years. The film depicts how they overcome their initial differences and prejudices to develop a deep friendship and mutual respect. The film also portrays the social changes and racial issues in America from the 1940s to the 1970s – a truly timeless film that won four academy awards.
As you can see from this list (it’s certainly not exhaustive – Here Today https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10944596/ starring Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish is worthy of a mention) there might not be that many films made about senior citizens, but the quality of the films is often exceedingly high, and they often have something very important to say.
It’s worth spending time exploring what films are made just outside of the Hollywood blockbusters, too, because in independent cinema, there are many more films made that recognise the value that senior actors and storytellers have to share.
