Short film by Michael Sewell exploring Alzheimer’s impact on a young family.

Two actresses protraying women with Alzheimer’s Disease have been nominated for Golden Globes this year.

Julie Christie was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama) for her role as woman who is disappearing into the vortex of Alzheimer’s disease in ‘Away From Her’.

Sissy Spacek has been nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television with her performance as a foster mother beginning to show signs of Alzheimer’s Disease in “Pictures of Hollis Woods.”
A Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Pictures of Hollis Woods was aired on …read more

I discovered these short films posted at over at YouTube. They all address the issue of Alzheimer’s disease – from the view point of both those suffering from the disease and those caring for them. I’d be interested to hear what you think of about the presentation and interpretation of the characters….
Harper is Missing – the story of an old man with Alzheimer’s disease who wanders away from his assisted living facility

Without You – the story of a mother and daughter and Alzheimer’s disease

Darkness – the story of a man who’s wife has Alzheimer’s disease

This is not something I would have thought of but Carol D. O’Dell has been posting on her blog a list of ‘Top Five Caregiving Movies’. And it’s not all tears and handkerchiefs. Mostly her list comprises of laughter and black humor movies…
Carol’s list of Top Caregiving Movies is…
5. Evening
4. Marvin’s Room
3. Driving Miss Daisy
2. Proof
1. Throw Mama from the Train
Head over to Carol’s blog Mothering Mother and More and discover her reasons for the movies on the list. It’s quite inspiring. (when you get to Carol’s site, click on blog at the left of the screen and then scroll …read more

Japanese actor Ken Watanabe is best known for his portrayal of ruthless warlords, samurais, and emperors – strong fighting men.
But it is his most recent role in Memories of Tomorrow playing a high-profile ad manager who is diagnoses with Alzheimer’s disease that has made the most impact on him. So much impact that he has decided to donate a portion of his salary from the film to the Japanese Alzheimer’s Association.

Ken Watanabe says “Alzheimer’s is a very serious problem and young Alzheimer’s sufferers still have energy and it progresses quickly. All the patients lost their memory but their emotion still …read more

In a previous post, Liz mentioned Hollywood movies dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.  I learned recently about a new movie, Memories of Tomorrow, starring and produced by Japanese actor, Ken Wanatabe.
You’ll find very interesting and informative interview of Ken Wanatabe at ComingSoon.net will give you insight about how he discovered the book and decided to make this movie. 
“He plays the manager of a high profile ad agency whose life is altered when he starts showing the early stages of Alzheimer’s at age 49.”
Whereas many of the movies dealing with Alzheimer’s portrayed someone who contracted this disease later in life.  Memories of Tomorrow …read more

Thought it would be interesting to make a list of movies that deal with Alzheimer’s disease, so I did a google search and came up with…only two.
Iris (2001) about the life of writer Iris Murdoch, including her battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Review: Life’s painful truth, perfectly performed
Away with Her (2006) about a woman slipping into Alzheimer’s disease.
Review: ‘Iris’: Heroic on a a Human Scale
Can anyone think of any other movies that deal with Alzheimer’s disease?
I’ll have to own up here and say that I’ve seen neither of these movies…will have to put them on my list of things to do …read more