Watched On: #Netflix
Language: English
Genre: Feel Good
It was Holi-Day, and no, I don't participate in the festival anymore, thanks to incidents from childhood. At such times, Netflix has always come to my rescue, and I started watching the film they recommended based on my viewing pattern: "Head Full of Honey."
It’s a poignant film about an aging grandfather, portrayed by Nick Nolte, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. As the movie unfolds, we witness the progression of his disease. The heart of the film lies in the bond between the grandfather and his granddaughter, Matilda, played by Sophie Nolte. Yes, you read that correctly—both actors are related in real life; they are father and daughter.
There are certain parts of the film where I definitely shed tears. I'm not sure if it's because I thought of my aging parents or simply because the cast moved me so deeply. But I cried... literally.
The film offers plenty to take away, teaching us the importance of patience and giving time—the most precious gift—to family members. It highlights how often parents feel unwanted and consequently begin to forget things themselves, among other poignant lessons. It's as if you already know these things deep down, but you needed someone else to say them out loud for you to truly hear and understand.
The interaction between Matilda and her doctor, where she tries to grasp the world her grandfather gets lost in while feeling lost herself, is the highlight of the film. The doctor explains in simple terms, comparing his memories to books on a shelf. Some books fall off, some right themselves, until one day, all the books fall off the shelf altogether.
There are, of course, some moments where I found myself thinking, "Oh come on, seriously..." But then again, it's okay, because I've seen worse! While I did want my children to watch it to gain a better understanding of their grandparents, there are parts that I wouldn't want to explain to them—particularly the inappropriate behaviors displayed by the grandfather. I wouldn't want them to envision my father behaving like that. It would scar both my children and my father for life.
If you're someone who gets frustrated by your parents' aging behaviors, their constant questions, then this film is a comprehensive exploration of relationships. It covers husband-wife dynamics, father-son relationships, grandfather-granddaughter bonds, father-in-law-daughter-in-law interactions, and more.
If you have the time to invest in something that can reignite your emotions, then this is a worthwhile watch. It's definitely on my Thumbs Up List.
-SuVi
*****Fantabulous
****Great
***Nice
**Okay
*Why?
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