A coming-of-(old)-age film following an octogenarian woman named Ruth as she adjusts to assisted living, grappling with conflicting desires and shifting self-narratives amidst fading memories and evolving age identity.
Sarah Friedland’s debut is an intimate and loving portrait that combines the physical language of caregiving and the precise choreography of Ruth’s body to center the experience of living as an aging human. The film was created in collaboration with the residents and staff of a retirement community in Pasadena, California.
Familiar Touch screened twice at the 30th annual Cucalorus Film Festival. Gabe Elder, the cinematographer, taught an Intro to Film for Older Adults class during the festival as well!