Familiar Touch

Eighty-year-old Ruth Goldman moves into a care home as she begins to suffer from the early stages of dementia. This touching coming-of-old-age film follows Ruth as she tries to find her way in a new environment, surrounded by unfamiliar people, strange customs, and rules she cannot comprehend. All her relationships must be rediscovered—those with her caregivers, her family, and even herself—all while facing the growing loss of memory and the decline of her mind. Sarah Friedland’s coming-of-old-age film portrays, with dignity, sensitivity, and moments of humor, what still remains when the brain begins to fail. The film won no fewer than three awards at the Venice Film Festival: Best Debut, Best Director, and Best Actress.