Amy Dafler requests:

"I began my work looking at three films:  "On Golden Pond," "Cocoon," and

"Harold and Maude."  To aid my interpretation of these films, I read

Louis Gianetti's "Understanding Movies" and Marshall McLuhan's

"Understanding Media."  Taking advantage of the internet, I searched for

websites and articles that might include discussion of aging and film.

Here, I was lead to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Center for

Twentieth Century Studies and their conference "Women and Aging."

 

To continue my research, I intend to view fims representative of many

genres.  These films include, but are not limited to: "Trip to

Bountiful," "Throw Momma From the Train," and "Making of a Marriage."

However, my main difficulty is locating literature about film and aging.

If you have any resources you feel are helpful, please respond privately

or to the list."

 

 

I'd suggest talking to your reference librarian.  A quick look at our none-too-

replete library catalogue found at least a couple of possibly relevant titles,

and you can find more through the FILM LITERATURE INDEX and other bibliographic

sources.  There are also works by de Beauvoir and many others that deal with

more theoretical issues of aging.  I'm sure the Milwaukee site can provide more.

 

I wonder, though, if you are limiting your sample of films to more or less

contemporary American films.  There is a wide range of films that could be

relevant to your study, involving shifting attitudes across time and culture.

Leo McCary's MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW, for example, gives a very clear picture

of an old couple in the 1930s forced to rely on their children.  It makes one

understand why some people get so panicky when politicians discuss (or don't

discuss) Social Security.

 

There are also films from other countries, like Imamura's INSECT WOMAN,

Tornatore's EVERYBODY'S FINE, Tavernier's A SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY,

Cisse's BRIGHTNESS, de Sica's UMBERTO D., and Ozu's TOKYO STORY, among many

others.

 

 

Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN)

 

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