Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
When two people love and commit to each other, almost inevitably one of them will have to watch the other suffer and die. Such is life. I've at times idly and morbidly wondered whether I'd prefer to be the watcher or watch-ee. I won't have a say in the matter, of course, so I don't dwell long on it but in the end I'm pretty sure biscuitpop would do better as the watcher, and I'd fail miserably in either role.
I'll eventually see Amour because I love well-made, well-acted films. I've opted not to see it in the theater because it's so intense that it'll work better for me on a small home screen (iPad, most likely) with frequent breaks.
After I see it, I'll probably watch Silver Linings Playbook, for the umpteenth time, to get a jolt of feel-good.
I appreciate your review.
A week or so ago I saw the French film "Amour" starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva (in French with English sub-titles). It is the story of what happens to an older, loving couple when the wife suffers a series of strokes and their life is upended. I was already aware of how difficult this film would be to watch, but I wanted to see it anyway because I have been a fan of Trintignant for a long time - even saw him once live on stage - and I wanted to see him in what might be his last major role.
Well, the warnings were spot on; this is not an uplifting film and it was indeed painful and depressing to watch. The acting is wonderful, of course - a real tour de force on the part of both of them in my opinion, expecially the difficult to play role of the wife.
Many of you will choose not to see it - and you'll get no criticism from me. But I just throw my thoughts out there just in case because the subject matter relates to our forum. Perhaps an even better forum would be "Caregiving" but I am not a regular there.
Just curious, does anyone know if Kings Point and this one are made (written, directed, produced) by older people or are they made by young people who see aging as a fate worse than death like we probably did when we were young?
As a retiree, if you made a movie/documentary about older people/retirees would it be pessimistic or uplifting?
Just curious, does anyone know if Kings Point and this one are made (written, directed, produced) by older people or are they made by young people who see aging as a fate worse than death like we probably did when we were young?
Kings Point (a 30 minute documentary) was made by the granddaughter of a woman who lived there. In the Kings Point thread, I posted a link to the film director's message, but I guess you missed it. Here it is again:
Quote:
Grandma and her neighbors took this message to heart: If you stay active and enjoy the warm weather, growing old doesn’t have to be that bad. Even after my grandfather passed, Grandma lived a full, independent life, surrounded by people with similar backgrounds, enjoying occasional visits from children and grandchildren.
When two people love and commit to each other, almost inevitably one of them will have to watch the other suffer and die. Such is life. I've at times idly and morbidly wondered whether I'd prefer to be the watcher or watch-ee. I won't have a say in the matter, of course, so I don't dwell long on it but in the end I'm pretty sure biscuitpop would do better as the watcher, and I'd fail miserably in either role.
Several weeks back I had four hours of neuro-surgery on my neck involving both the spinal column and spinal cord. It could easily have resulted in total paralysis from the neck down and the surgeon was as visibly relieved that it didn't as was my wife. I was too out of it to know one way or the other for several more hours.
This was a risk we acknowledged going-in. I just took a wait-and-see approach but my wife was quite concerned and unnerved. I don't blame her as the primary burden for my care would have been on her. As terrifying as the prospect was, at no time did she waver in her resolve to be there for me whatever the outcome. I like to think I would have the same resolve were the situation and roles reversed.
We truly believe this is what love, loyalty, commitment and marriage demand. No one ever promised any of us a rose garden.
A week or so ago I saw the French film "Amour" starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva (in French with English sub-titles). It is the story of what happens to an older, loving couple when the wife suffers a series of strokes and their life is upended. I was already aware of how difficult this film would be to watch, but I wanted to see it anyway because I have been a fan of Trintignant for a long time - even saw him once live on stage - and I wanted to see him in what might be his last major role.
Well, the warnings were spot on; this is not an uplifting film and it was indeed painful and depressing to watch. The acting is wonderful, of course - a real tour de force on the part of both of them in my opinion, expecially the difficult to play role of the wife.
Many of you will choose not to see it - and you'll get no criticism from me. But I just throw my thoughts out there just in case because the subject matter relates to our forum. Perhaps an even better forum would be "Caregiving" but I am not a regular there.
A month or two ago, I provided my mom (90) a DVD of this at her request. My dad (91) is in a board and care.
As The Who put it "I hope I die before I get old" in "My Generation"
Several weeks back I had four hours of neuro-surgery on my neck involving both the spinal column and spinal cord. It could easily have resulted in total paralysis from the neck down and the surgeon was as visibly relieved that it didn't as was my wife. I was too out of it to know one way or the other for several more hours.
This was a risk we acknowledged going-in. I just took a wait-and-see approach but my wife was quite concerned and unnerved. I don't blame her as the primary burden for my care would have been on her. As terrifying as the prospect was, at no time did she waver in her resolve to be there for me whatever the outcome. I like to think I would have the same resolve were the situation and roles reversed.
We truly believe this is what love, loyalty, commitment and marriage demand. No one ever promised any of us a rose garden.
Congratulations on the outcome of your operation, Curmudgeon. Sometimes we don't know the depth of our relationship with our partners until it is tested. So glad that the two of you are solid. Hope you both have many good years ahead.
I for one would not watch it. I watched my dad deteriorate and die and now I am facing being the caregiver to my husband with Progressive Parkinsonism. he is 63 been diagnosed for a year and been a big change in just that time. He is still working now, but we don't know for how long, the future does not look even a little bright, I have several health issues myself and could end up needing full time care myself but I am determined to take care of him. We have been married 44.5 years and our commitment was for ever, not till one, or both of you start to fall apart.
While I have read many sad accounts of what is likely ahead for us, I don't think I need to see a depressing movie on the subject.
I for one would not watch it. I watched my dad deteriorate and die and now I am facing being the caregiver to my husband with Progressive Parkinsonism. he is 63 been diagnosed for a year and been a big change in just that time. He is still working now, but we don't know for how long, the future does not look even a little bright, I have several health issues myself and could end up needing full time care myself but I am determined to take care of him. We have been married 44.5 years and our commitment was for ever, not till one, or both of you start to fall apart.
While I have read many sad accounts of what is likely ahead for us, I don't think I need to see a depressing movie on the subject.
I am with you on this. I would rather deal with the tears when I need to and not think ahead on them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curmudgeon
Sad? Yes! Depressing? Yes! But yet, beautiful, as your approach to your marriage typifies.
I too think it is a beautiful thing but my emotions get overwhelmed when I watch movies that are sad and it don't even have to have a touch of reality. We (DW and I) have been together for a very long time. It will be hard on both of us no matter which.
I think we should be as prepared as possible for contingencies, but don't dwell on it. After all, you could both go together in a car crash. No sense over worrying.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
