Thursday Movie Picks: Movies For Seniors/The Elderly

 

So, this week it’s to choose a film that old crusties would like. Why do I have a The feeling that would be me since I love Its a Wonderful Life, silent cinema, and all the great older films that I grew up with. I consider old films from before 1960. The ‘60s is the transition and modern films from 1970 onwards. So, now that I am officially classified an oldie( but a baddie...no not goodie ‘cos what’s the fun in that?), I decided to choose 3 movies that my mom loved. My mom was not a movie lover and only learned about some films when she was much older...like in her free living 70s. Head over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what the others have chosen. Here are 3 I know my mom loved..

1.  DR. ZHIVAGO-1965

My mom often said this was her favourite movie because she could relate to it due to all she went through during and, especially, after the war when the Russians took over her part of Germany. The starvation, riding in a box car, , the cold, just trying to survive is what she experienced. This film does truly show what the leftist ways truly are( ahem, not wearing a mask is not one of them) with having to give up your home because more families could live in them, fearful of what the neighbours may say and send you away and the cold that can take your breath away. The film also has a luscious score with the very famous Lara’s theme running throughout the movie and the performances of Omar Sharif as Zhivago and Julie Christie as the love of his life, Lara set against the backdrop just before, during and after the Russian Revolution. It is a brilliant film and, interestingly enough, my uncle, my mom’s brother, also said this was his favourite film.

2.  SISTER ACT-1992

My mom laughed so hard when she saw this film and found Whoopi Goldberg a delight. She was a fan of Whoopi and refused to believe Whoopi swore( my mom hating swearing is legendary even though she was marruied to a lumberman who could say a few things and get a way with it like son of a bitch). This movies stars Whoopi as a head of some sad, singing nightclub act in a casino whose boyfriend(Harry Keitel) runs this sad casino. She witnesses her mob boyfriend kill someone and runs for her life becoming the main witness to put him behind bars. The trusted cop must place Whoopi under protection until she can testify. Where does one hide this wild gal? Let’s head over to a nunnery headed by Maggie Smith who is not happy having her there just as much as Whoopi is not happy having to be a nun in disguise. Soon, she is sent to the choir where Whoopi realizes this choir needs help so she starts to teach the choir nuns how to really belt out a tune. She brings this choir, the church and herself back to life. This is a fun, sweet movie that is great for all ages.  Every time this was on TV she would watch it.

3. ANDRE RIEU: THE CHRISTMAS I LOVE- 2013

I heard about this orchestra leader and superb violinist before my mom and introduced her to him by taking her to a concert in Toronto. It was outside, in May, and it was freezing! We had no clue it was outside and neither did Andre who requested if the men in his orchestra could give their coats to the beautiful women in his orchestra who are always dressed in ball gowns. He plays everything from waltzes to standards of that country. To say it is magical is an understatement as he will play everything from  classical standards to folk songs, hits from musicals and  even some Beatles...done in a classical vein. Hell, he even introduced a classical piece that Anthony Hopkins wrote and it is quite good. This man is world renown who gets all the people, young and old laughing, singing and dancing. 

The second time I took my mom to Toronto to see him at the Rogers Centre( formerly known as the Skydome), the scene looked right from Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna with fountains and all. On either side of the orchestra was a small ice rink where ice skaters waltzed to the tunes. He had the entire audience participate in singing Silent Night splitting us into 3 sections. He started with just his violin and then he raised one finger and the first group hummed, then the second and finally us. To be honest, we Canadians usually sound like meek sounding screech owls, but he made us sound so good. It was like a dream and I bet any of you would love to see him. He was in the States more than once and will play your favourites. If you go to youtube, you will see he has been all over the world and will play to that country's music mostly. 

When my mom went into longterm care, they would often play one of his videos and she called him her boyfriend. The last Christmas my brother and I had with her, I brought this DVD to play for her on a couple of my visits and she so enjoyed it...so did the other residents. She sang to many of these carols since she grew up with them when she was a little girl in the small town on Zornigall(near Wittenberg, Germany). So, if you have an hour to kill, I have included the whole thing below and I hope a couple of you do take a break and enjoy. Funny, I almost didn't take the time to bring this when I visited my mom and now I am soooooo thankful I did.