According to a recent article on the importance of documentary films in today’s world, “Documentary films tell important, often unknown stories and bring awareness to a wider audience, and are some of the best resources for information, inspiration and entertainment.” If that description is correct, then the following new documentaries will fulfill their roles in alerting the wider society to some of the most challenging aspects of growing older in today’s world.

First, consider the documentary Taking Care, about the challenges of an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis for Adele Miller (55 at the time of her diagnosis), mother of Lauren Miller Rogen and mother-in-law of Seth Rogen, the comedian, actor, director, and producer. Seth and Lauren, despite the resources they have at their disposal, have struggled for years to support Adele through her Alzheimer’s descent, and the movie Taking Care is their humorous and poignant tribute to her, as well as their documentation of the challenges faced by the loved ones of persons with dementia. We see the gradual decline of Adele through the movie and the love Seth and Lauren have for her, along with the stress and disbelief that Alzheimer’s can impose on involved loved ones. You can watch the trailer here, and the film is now streaming on Prime, Apple TV, and other online platforms. Seth and Lauren have created the charity Hilarity for Charity and raised over $20 million to support dementia caregivers throughout the country, as well as brain health research. The producers of this film have also put together resources to help you better understand your own brain health and to support the work they are doing.

PBS recently premiered another documentary entitled Aging in America, which is available to watch now on PBS.org or the free PBS app. It is also available to rent or purchase on Amazon. This film was inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Why Survive- Being Old in America, written by Dr. Robert Butler, a psychiatrist and activist who coined the term “ageism,” and who started the first Department of Geriatrics in a US medical school at Mt. Sinai Medical School in New York City. The documentary examines the progress and challenges posed by Dr. Butler’s groundbreaking book, concluding that while much good has happened in the 50 years since its publication, there remains the scourge of ageism that prevents further progress and society’s inability to accept and embrace our aging demographics. You can read more about Dr. Butler and this film here.

Finally, on June 24th, PBS will also premiere a new documentary entitled Caregiving. Produced with the help of actor Bradley Cooper, who discusses his own caregiving experience as his father succumbed to cancer, the film is narrated by actress Uzo Aduba (also a caregiver). Over the course of 2 hours, the film shines a light on the personal experiences of a range of caregivers who lovingly care for family while confronting serious challenges in our system of paying for support services and providing care. Viewers will be invited to share their own caregiving stories, and a wide range of resources for caregivers has been put together to accompany the film.  

All 3 of these films shine a light on important aspects of growing older in today’s world, and should enlighten audiences to the opportunities- and obstacles- they may face as they and their loved ones become older adults. The filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu once said, “Cinema is a mirror by which we often see ourselves.” With these 3 films, it’s likely most of us, for better or worse, will see familiar aspects of ourselves and our loved ones.