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Assisted Living: The Movie

Fri, 11/19/2004 - 1:00am — Karen Stevenson
Description: 
I have seem some clips from what appears to be a very interesting look at life in an assisted living facility. The movie was filmed on location in an assisted living facility and actors were directed to blend in seamlessly with the normal environment. Many of the actors and all of the extras in the film are residents of the assisted living facility going about their normal lives or reacting to the action in a scene. As John Case of the Summerkamp Group put it:
"ASSISTED LIVING" was filmed on location in a working assisted living facility and paints a uniquely genuine and thought-provoking portrait of aging in America. Elliot Greenebaum'™s award-winning feature seamlessly blends the fictional story of one woman'™s poignant surrender to Alzheimer'™s with the day-to-day lives of actual patients and staff. The result is a startlingly clear-eyed allegory filled with compassion and wit.
Indiewire, the on-line authority on independent films, says 'œGreenebaum is an alchemist, combining real moments and real people with an exceptional story. What ensues is a magical film.' SYNOPSIS Assisted Living follows 21-year-old Todd through his final day of work as a janitor at a nursing home. Todd smokes pot frequently on the job, which allows him to enjoy the surreal environment of the assisted living facility. He also breaks the monotony of his days with entertaining'”and extremely unprofessional'”diversions involving the residents: he rides through the halls in borrowed wheelchairs; he plays pool and Scrabble with them; he even 'œplays God' on the telephone, giving residents the illusion of speaking to their departed loved ones in heaven. But however much these activities cheer the seniors, Todd'™s behavior angers the staff and undermines the policies of the home. It is ultimately Todd'™s interactions with Mrs. Pearlman'”a beautiful resident who longs for a visit from her son'”that jeopardize his job. Mrs. Pearlman, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer'™s, has difficulty distinguishing the real world from her memories of it. As her odd friendship with Todd develops, she begins to mistake the janitor for her son. When Todd in turn begins to assume the role, he rediscovers his own humanity and instigates a transformation for them both. FILM FESTIVALS 2003 Slamdance Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE 2003 GenArt Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE AUDIENCE AWARD 2003 Woodstock Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE 2003 Savannah Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE 2003 SXSW (South by Southwest) Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION 2003 Mill Valley Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
I have seem some clips from what appears to be a very interesting look at life in an assisted living facility. The movie was filmed on location in an assisted living facility and actors were directed to blend in seamlessly with the normal environment. Many of the actors and all of the extras in the film are residents of the assisted living facility going about their normal lives or reacting to the action in a scene. As John Case of the Summerkamp Group put it:
"ASSISTED LIVING" was filmed on location in a working assisted living facility and paints a uniquely genuine and thought-provoking portrait of aging in America. Elliot Greenebaum'™s award-winning feature seamlessly blends the fictional story of one woman'™s poignant surrender to Alzheimer'™s with the day-to-day lives of actual patients and staff. The result is a startlingly clear-eyed allegory filled with compassion and wit.
Indiewire, the on-line authority on independent films, says 'œGreenebaum is an alchemist, combining real moments and real people with an exceptional story. What ensues is a magical film.' SYNOPSIS Assisted Living follows 21-year-old Todd through his final day of work as a janitor at a nursing home. Todd smokes pot frequently on the job, which allows him to enjoy the surreal environment of the assisted living facility. He also breaks the monotony of his days with entertaining'”and extremely unprofessional'”diversions involving the residents: he rides through the halls in borrowed wheelchairs; he plays pool and Scrabble with them; he even 'œplays God' on the telephone, giving residents the illusion of speaking to their departed loved ones in heaven. But however much these activities cheer the seniors, Todd'™s behavior angers the staff and undermines the policies of the home. It is ultimately Todd'™s interactions with Mrs. Pearlman'”a beautiful resident who longs for a visit from her son'”that jeopardize his job. Mrs. Pearlman, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer'™s, has difficulty distinguishing the real world from her memories of it. As her odd friendship with Todd develops, she begins to mistake the janitor for her son. When Todd in turn begins to assume the role, he rediscovers his own humanity and instigates a transformation for them both. FILM FESTIVALS 2003 Slamdance Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE 2003 GenArt Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE AUDIENCE AWARD 2003 Woodstock Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE 2003 Savannah Film Festival GRAND JURY PRIZE 2003 SXSW (South by Southwest) Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION 2003 Mill Valley Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION
Link: 
Assisted Living: The Movie - This site has movie clips, a schedule of where and when the movie is playing, and an email list you can sign up for that will tell you when it is playing near you.
Medicare.gov - The official Medicare site has detailed information about the discount drug card program and a way for you to input the drugs you use and other information to help you find cards which might be appropriate for your purposes.