Emily Jones from the Alzheimer’s Society reviews Still Alice and the changing face of Alzheimer’s in our culture.
Still Alice powerfully captures the personal journey of dementia and it is rare to see Alzheimer’s portrayed so accurately in film. While awareness of dementia has certainly improved in recent years, people with the condition still regularly experience discrimination and social exclusion.
Alzheimer’s Society hopes that Still Alice will help more people understand about dementia and contribute to ongoing efforts to end the stigma and shame too often associated with the condition.
The film portrays Alzheimer’s very accurately and without judgement and contributes to wider efforts to raise awareness and end the stigma and shame too often associated with the condition.
Five to ten years ago Alzheimer’s Society believe a film like Still Alice would not have been made. Dementia was still talked about in hushed and fearful voices. However, in this country the Prime Ministers Challenge on Dementia, Terry Pratchett’s decision to speak openly about his condition, the media and awareness raising initiatives like Dementia Friends have all contributed to a willingness to talk about dementia. To see Alzheimer’s on the big screen is a sign of how far we have come.
Still Alice is showing at Plymouth Arts Centre cinema from 27 March – 2 April.
For more information about dementia and to find out about local services and campaigns, please visit alzheimers.org.uk
Emily Jones
Plymouth Arts Centre aspires to be an organisation that supports people with dementia and their carers. We run a monthly Dementia Friendly Cinema event for people with dementia and their family/ carers. The next event is The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on Thursday 2 April at 1pm.
