Seven movies with a message

Everybody loves a list – which is why this month we’re bringing you seven of the best screen portrayals of ageing. 

They are part of a trend in recent years, as film and television producers turn their attention to stories that resonate with seniors. 

These films often feature older protagonists, exploring themes of friendship, love, and the richness of life’s later years. 

In these stories, older characters take centre stage in narratives that engage and inspire other seniors.

Directed by John Madden, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a charming and heartwarming tale of a group of British retirees who travel to India, seeking a more affordable retirement. They land in a run-down hotel, where they encounter both challenges and new opportunities for personal growth. 

The film stars celebrated actors like Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, and Tom Wilkinson, all delivering performances that are humorous, poignant, and deeply relatable. 

The story’s themes of second chances, rediscovery of purpose, and embracing new experiences resonate particularly well with older audiences. It’s a reminder that life, even in later years, can be filled with surprises and adventures. 

Calendar Girls is a delightful British comedy based on a true story about a group of older women who decide to pose nude for a charity calendar to raise funds for a local hospital. The Women’s Institute members find themselves in the unexpected spotlight, challenging stereotypes about ageing and body image. 

Starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, the film provides plenty of laughs and emphasises the importance of friendship, community, and breaking societal expectations. Calendar Girls encourages viewers to embrace their age without losing their sense of fun, confidence, or dignity. 

The TV series Grace and Frankie deserves a place on this list for its groundbreaking portrayal of older women navigating the challenges of modern life. 

Starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, the show follows two women who form an unexpected bond after their husbands announce they are in love with each other. 

The series delves into the complexities of ageing, independence, and starting over later in life, with wit and humour. 

Over its seven-season run, Grace and Frankie earned a dedicated following among audiences who appreciated its frankness about topics such as love, sex, health, and friendship in one’s senior years. 

On the more serious side, Amour, directed by Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke, is a powerful and emotional portrayal of love and ageing. 

It tells the story of an elderly couple, Georges and Anne, whose bond is tested when Anne suffers a debilitating stroke. As Georges becomes her primary caregiver, the movie examines the deep love, dedication, and pain that comes with growing old together. 

Amour won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The performances by Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva were universally praised. 

Alexander Payne’s Nebraska is a beautifully shot, black-and-white film that explores the relationship between a father and son. 

Woody Grant, played by Bruce Dern, is an elderly man who believes he’s won a million-dollar sweepstakes. His son, played by Will Forte, reluctantly agrees to drive him from Montana to Nebraska to claim the prize. 

Through this road trip, the film paints a touching and often humorous portrait of family dynamics, small-town America, and the stubbornness that can come with ageing. 

Nebraska offers a tender reflection on the parent-child relationship as it evolves with time, as well as the hopes and dreams that persist even into old age. 

Cocoon is a heartwarming fantasy about a group of seniors who discover a “fountain of youth” in the form of alien cocoons hidden in a swimming pool. 

Directed by Ron Howard, the film uses its otherworldly premise to explore themes of vitality, the fear of ageing, and the desire to live fully, regardless of age. 

With a stellar cast that includes Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, and Jessica Tandy, Cocoon was both a box office hit and a feel-good movie that charmed audiences of all ages, especially older viewers, with its blend of humor and touching moments. 

Starring two cinematic legends, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, The Bucket List is a dramedy about two terminally ill men who decide to make the most of their remaining time by creating a bucket list of things they want to do before they die. 

From skydiving to visiting the pyramids of Egypt, the film showcases the joy of living life to the fullest, even in your twilight years. 

Nicholson and Freeman have a palpable chemistry, and their characters’ friendship is at the heart of this movie. The message that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams resonates strongly with senior audiences.