Sunday, 8 October 2017

Older Than Ireland

(Alex Fegan/2015/Ireland)


Taking a sample of Irish centenarians and building interviews around a set of core questions relating to landmarks throughout life such as childhood, marriage, kids, bereavement this documentary excels in teasing out the characters on screen and hitting notes by turn comic, joyful, maudlin and poignant. There is no catchall message about how to survive to such an age or what the secret to life is; indeed the responses to the question about the meaning of life don’t look any different to the responses it might generate in people of any age! The settings of the interviews in the homes of each participant show just how much of a cross section of Irish life is on display also. It’s an insightful and witty documentary and whilst one or two interviewees imply that they might be tired of still being around it imparts a joie de vivre and sense of living life while you have it.

(3.5/5)

No comments:

Post a Comment