(image above provided by Music Box Films)

By Steve Moran

Rarely do I watch a movie where, at the end, I find myself profoundly disappointed that it is over and wishing for another 30 minutes or hour.

That is exactly what happened to me last week when I watched an advance copy of FAMILIAR TOUCH, a coming-of-(old)-age film that tells the story of a man moving his mother into memory care.

A few weeks ago, Sean Kelly, CEO of Front Porch, introduced me to this powerful movie. It was filmed on location at Villa Gardens, a Front Porch community in Pasadena, and the cast included Villa Gardens team members and residents.

Last Friday evening, April 25, 2025, there was a film preview in Chicago, which our own Rachel Hill attended. I wasn’t able to attend, but the producers graciously allowed me to watch an advance copy.

Something Every Senior Living Executive Should See

The story follows “an octogenarian woman’s transition to life in assisted living as she contends with her conflicting relationship to herself and her caregivers amidst her shifting memory, age identity, and desires. It was written and directed by Sarah Friedland and stars Kathleen Chalfant, Carolyn Michelle, and Andy McQueen.

The film’s world premiere was at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, Orizzonti Competition. It is coming to US theaters this summer via Music Box Films. It has already won several awards, including the Lion of the Future – Luigi De Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film, Best Director, and Best Actress in the Orizzonti Competition.

My Impressions

Whenever someone suggests I should watch a “film,” I get this cringy feeling inside. I assume it will be something too high-brow, too esoteric, and too slow for me to enjoy. That I will end up watching from beginning to end, feeling guilty if I turn it off early, and like my time was wasted if I watch the entire thing.

I confess, the first few minutes were mildly confusing and very slow. I watched it with my wife, and we were both wondering what I had gotten us into. That quickly changed. The film …

  • Provides a powerful look at conflicting emotions that residents and family members come face to face with.
  • There will be some scenes that are so realistic that they will make you cringe.
  • It demonstrates that senior living is the very best option for many older people and their families.
  • It is a powerful portrayal of how much people who work in senior living care about the happiness of residents and family members.
  • It is a reminder that sometimes, as older people decline, choices are hard and that none of the choices are perfect.

What I struggle with …

I am not sure who the audience for this film is, and I am not sure if, after watching it, people will be more inclined or less inclined to embrace senior living. This is not to say I do not think the film should have been made, and it, in fact, does a good job of exploring the realities of many families.

I just wonder if it will help senior living operators or hurt them. Though more likely than not, it won’t make that big a difference.

It is something everyone in senior living should view.