Alison, Rose, and Hetty – 87, 101, and 102 years old respectively – may be ready to “go to sleep for good,” as Hetty puts it, but in the meantime they’re quite adept at entertaining themselves wholeheartedly. As such, they make particularly engaging subjects for Jocelyn Cammack’s candid look at life’s final chapter. As residents of a North London assisted living facility, their days are filled with diversions both ordinary (tai chi, crossword puzzles) and extraordinary (anti-war protests). Against this backdrop, they share their views on Tony Blair, religious fanaticism, men, sex, and the quantum soup, all the while taking shots at the vagaries of old age: “I have such disgusting eating habits,” laments Rose. “I either put nothing into my mouth or drop it on the floor, and it’s really quite revolting.” There’s nothing comfortable about the topic of aging, and on screen, it’s generally confined to comedic vehicles of the Grumpy Old Men variety. That’s why this lovely film is a rare treat – and a testament to the power of unflinching documentary-making to be both uncomfortable and comforting at the same time.
Wednesday, March 18, 4:30pm, Alamo South Lamar
This article appears in March 13 • 2009.