We have an old problem
Etienne Chatiliez's "Tatie Danielle" frightened me. Danielle Billard was an 82-year-old widow, who was mean and cruel to her caregiver. Could this be due to her old age? It seemed to be the case. Was there a wild girl inside that frail body? It was hard to tell. Did the old woman have the last laugh? Yes. Experience would provide old folks some wisdom at the very least, but it turned out to be the opposite in Madame Billard's case. And then came along a younger caregiver. Tatie Danielle finally found her match. Expect French filmmakers to be experts in black humor. I won't recommend it for everyone, but this comedy would stand out from other films about elderly people.
Let me cite my five favorite movies:
Wild Strawberries (1957) by Ingmar Bergman. Most of the scenes took place on the road. Most road movies involved introspection, which could be a life changer. In this somber picture, the (lead) character would come to a sad realization about his impact on this world. Academicians would expect more, but not this man. He could have slow down and figured it out until he recalled his self-importance. This was the downfall of many people.
Driving Miss Daisy (1989) by Bruce Beresford. There were times when a prickly attitude would mask loneliness. An amiable chauffeur figured it out after driving an old Jewish widow a number of times. There might not be much to see, which could be the reason behind her unpleasant trait. What is the moral of this story? Kindness could go a long way.
Waking Ned (1999) by Kirk Jones. The winner of the Irish National Lottery died from a heart attack. Two old men wanted to find out about his identity, as he (or she) could be one of the 52 inhabitants of their small town. Only senior citizens would go through such trouble. They have all the free time (at their disposal). Some would experience a mid-life crisis, even if it came a bit too late. And they wanted to have some fun.
Space Cowboys (2000) by Clint Eastwood. This disaster drama film didn't receive much fanfare because it was unlike other disaster films. There was sense, even depth. And the feel-good element would be somehow genuine on a certain level. Eastwood, who gained fame in spaghetti Western pictures, could be compared to Billy Wilder. (Both filmmakers made different films in different genres.) Eastwood was like fine wine, which could sum up the four elderly characters. They were tasked to save the busted space expedition, and they have enough experience (to pull it off).
Up (2009) by Pete Docter and Bob Peterson. As this bereaved widower would show, no one would be too old for adventure. Traveling is the best way to move on, but it won't be for everyone.
I was told about the old Japanese films, where the younger characters were torn between their affection towards their parents and their own personal happiness. I couldn't find a copy, though. It might not be a senior moment on my part.
