Dementia in Focus: A moving film about loss and love in Pomerania

Dementia in Focus: A moving film about loss and love in Pomerania

A special cultural highlight is currently taking place in Cologne: a feature film about the topic of dementia is attracting a lot of attention. The ARD media library offers the film “…and if we are all together”, which was produced in Germany in 2020. The focus is on the fates of people who are directly or indirectly affected by the disease. The main characters, including Krause (Horst Krause) and Elsa (Carmen-Maja Antoni), illustrate the challenges and emotions that come with dementia. ARD Mediathek reports on the complex plot, which shows how the loss of memories and the fight for closure between generations can have a separating but also unifying effect.

Elsa lives with her school friend Lubo in Pomerania and has suffered a bout of dementia. This makes her relationship to the past painfully clear as she and Lubo travel to their old homeland. This also means farewell for many, and the characters' different wishes lead to tension. Meta wants to travel, while her husband Rudi (Tilo Prückner) prefers to stay. Young chef Paula (Pauline Knof) also has her own problems as she tries to keep her family together. The challenges she faces are both personal and family. Mayor Stübner (Boris Aljinovic) shows interest in Paula, which brings with it additional conflicts.

Films as a reflection

Films that deal with the topic of dementia have made it their mission to convey the disease through images, dialogue and emotional depth. They offer not only fascinating but also penetrating insights into the interactions of relatives, carers and those affected. Compiled by Desideria, this range of perspectives becomes clear. Among the best-known films are the award-winning work “The Father” with Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, which describes the confusing dimensions of memory and reality, and “Still Alice”, which impressively shows how a linguistics professor (Julianne Moore) deals with her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Desideria emphasizes that these films are of great importance for understanding the disease.

The selection ranges from the tragic comedy “Robot & Frank”, in which a dementia patient receives a care robot, to moving documentaries such as “Don't forget me”, which focuses on the last years of a mother suffering from Alzheimer's. These films cleverly portray the difficulties that not only those affected go through, but also their relatives.

Entertainment and information

The multitude of feature films and documentaries shows that the genre can be both entertaining and educational. In addition to the films already mentioned, there are numerous other works, such as “Honey in the Head”, which deals with the close relationship between a grandfather suffering from dementia and his granddaughter. Short films like “Two Sugars” also offer a touching insight into the everyday life of an affected family in just 15 minutes. HKSK highlights that media plays a key role in raising awareness of the challenges associated with dementia.

Overall, the film “…and when we are all together” takes viewers on an emotional journey that both makes you think and shows the value of community and support. At a time when dementia is affecting more and more people, addressing the issue through film remains crucial to promote understanding and empathy.