I couldn't watch all of it

I've never heard of the movie but can imagine the horror. My grandmother had Alzheimers and I would get sick to my stomach wondering if there was a rational woman somewhere in there knowing what was going on and unable to do anything about it.

Shannon, yes.

Not sure I could watch this movie, but I probably would.
Before the days of nursing homes, my mother, a nurse, took in patients to live with us. Several had had strokes. One was Mrs. Mersereau, a beautiful and intelligent woman who was with us for nearly three years. She was totally paralysed down one side. I often sat with her while Mother was getting supper, or perhaps a little sleep. We turned her every half hour, so she never had a bed sore. Mrs. Mersereau had been near at the time of the Halifax explosion and recalled it well, to my delight. Part of the time her mind wandered, but sometimes her mind was clear. I told her all my girlhood secrets, knowing she'd forget them a few minutes later. She listened when she could and gave expert unjudging advice. The whole family came to love her.
The hospital bed was set up in the livingroom so that she could be part of the family's activities. I often washed and set her hair. Now and then her husband came to visit. I could hear him praying for God to let her die. I was horrified. But I was probably 11 or 12. Now I might understand. I might.
Another stroke victim stayed with us a short time. She was diabetic and never ceased moaning. Although her bed was changed almost hourly, the strong smell of urine permeated the room. She wore a catheter, but if she could get hold of the tube, she would pull it out. Then it would be up to mother or me to clean up the mess, get a clean catheter and reinsert it.
It wasn't always easy to remember that she had been a warm, loving woman before the stroke.

OH, Deb, this isn't a movie for me. Last summer at the Psyche Ward in Quincy for Alzheimers did me in. I have enough real images stored in my brain to last a lifetime.

With Tonia gone, you should be watching something whimsical and snap happy....The King and I...or Oklahoma. Forget the hard stuff.

That does sound like an overwhelming experience (and movie).

Have you seen Rivers and Tides?
It's a documentary about sculptor Andy Goldsworthy. Really wonderful.

Here's a blurb from Netflix
"This amazing documentary from Thomas Riedelsheimer won the Golden Gate Award Grand Prize for Best Documentary at the 2003 San Francisco International Film Festival. The film follows renowned sculptor Andy Goldsworthy as he creates with ice, driftwood, bracken, leaves, stone, dirt and snow in open fields, beaches, rivers, creeks and forests. With each new creation, he carefully studies the energetic flow and transitory nature of his work."

Wilhelmine, what better way to learn the value of compassion than to have seen your mother, and shared in the experiences of care giving.

Bob, you have had your share of hard realities, and I think you are right. Whimsical might have been a better choice right now.

Phoenix, I will have to see River's and Tides. Thanks!

Wow. It sounds like a particularly powerful film.

Deb, that movie has been on my list for several months. Each time I have the chance to watch it, I opt for something upbeat instead. I would just rather laugh than cry. I will keep it on my list for a time when I think I can brave it though.

Sounds harrowing!

I left the room last night, could not finish watching a movie with my husband, either... I went and did the laundry instead, it was THAT bad! We sat down to watch a movie my husband picked up, Snatch , it was supposed to be a COMEDY, with Brad Pitt in it. Heck, it was so bloody, violent, and unintelligible with harsh language, I gave up early on the film. ICKY! Don't waste your money on this one.

I saw this movie and was moved by it. After I saw it, I read that the female roles weren't accurately depicted and there was disagreement about why this was so. If I watched the movie again, I would focus on his experience and not put much stock into the female roles.