Familiar Touch

Sarah Friedland’s absorbing coming-of-(old)-age debut feature portrays the multifaceted reality of an octogenarian woman with a failing memory.

We intimately observe Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant) preparing her final smørrebrød, before she moves into an assisted living facility. In her new home, surrounded by caregivers, she must come to terms with daily routines, moment-to-moment negotiations and a changing self-identity.

Made in collaboration with the facility and featuring its actual residents as supporting cast and crew, Friedland’s coming-of-(old)-age film is a moving portrait of a new chapter in life. Screened at the BFI London Film Festival 2024.