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Photo by Simon Shek. |
Books about Dementia
Hollywood has responded as well. Filmmakers have already portrayed Alzheimer's Disease or other causes for dementia* in a number of film.
[*See this post about the medical experts' terminology change favoring Neurocognitive Disorder over dementia.]
[*See this post about the medical experts' terminology change favoring Neurocognitive Disorder over dementia.]
Here are summaries and links to trailers for some of the films I've found with a list of the others at the end of this post.
Note that some of the films actually depict vascular dementia or dementia due to Parkinson's Disease, but some of the behaviors and symptoms are similar, so the film depictions may help family members process their feelings nonetheless.
Most of the films below are feature films and not documentaries. I'm trying to emphasize the contribution that artists make to better responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by dementia. Nevertheless, documentaries also require a view from the humanities more than from the sciences, so I have a few in the mix.
I found nearly all of these films on Netflix.
In post-production: Supernova, starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, directed by Harry MacQueen. Tucci's character, Tusker, has a diagnosis of early onset dementia.
ETA: Visit this page for links to a dozen plus documentaries about dementia.
What They Had (2018). Hilary Swank stars as a woman in midlife who questions her role as daughter, sister, wife & mother during a visit to her parents to address her mother's wandering due to dementia. The film explores complex family dynamics between parents and two adult children. Full Review with trailer
Mr. Holmes (2015). Ian McKellen plays Sherlock Holmes as a man who lived beyond the pages of the stories. Set in 1947, the film finds the detective retired and reviewing his last case from 30 years prior. Watch him use every trick for improving his failing memory and every device for uncovering clues. Can this world-famous detective revise his legacy in time to transmit it to the rising generation? Full Review.
Still Alice (2015). Based on the novel of the same name, Still Alice shows a university professor and her family adjusting to her diagnosis and clinical symptoms of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. The theme of identity through work threatening identity through relationships is strong. Trailer. Goodreads review of the book.
Note that some of the films actually depict vascular dementia or dementia due to Parkinson's Disease, but some of the behaviors and symptoms are similar, so the film depictions may help family members process their feelings nonetheless.
Most of the films below are feature films and not documentaries. I'm trying to emphasize the contribution that artists make to better responding to the challenges and opportunities presented by dementia. Nevertheless, documentaries also require a view from the humanities more than from the sciences, so I have a few in the mix.
I found nearly all of these films on Netflix.
In post-production: Supernova, starring Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, directed by Harry MacQueen. Tucci's character, Tusker, has a diagnosis of early onset dementia.
ETA: Visit this page for links to a dozen plus documentaries about dementia.
What They Had (2018). Hilary Swank stars as a woman in midlife who questions her role as daughter, sister, wife & mother during a visit to her parents to address her mother's wandering due to dementia. The film explores complex family dynamics between parents and two adult children. Full Review with trailer
Mr. Holmes (2015). Ian McKellen plays Sherlock Holmes as a man who lived beyond the pages of the stories. Set in 1947, the film finds the detective retired and reviewing his last case from 30 years prior. Watch him use every trick for improving his failing memory and every device for uncovering clues. Can this world-famous detective revise his legacy in time to transmit it to the rising generation? Full Review.
Still Alice (2015). Based on the novel of the same name, Still Alice shows a university professor and her family adjusting to her diagnosis and clinical symptoms of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. The theme of identity through work threatening identity through relationships is strong. Trailer. Goodreads review of the book.