The Way of the Wise Elder in Film: Exploring Authentic Elderhood through Cinema (Online)

Explore films that grace us with representations of authentic elderhood, and teach us the essentials of aging wisely.

The most compelling films about wise elderhood serve as journeys into mythic territory — offering daunting trials, vital awakenings, necessary sacrifices, and healing transformations. Movies bring the archetypes to life, gracing us with unique characters embodying essentials of authentic elderhood: generativity, integrity, reflection, reconciliation, and the befriending of mystery. Depth psychology, mythic imagination, and the language of dreams will guide our expansive consideration of remarkable cinematic elders, observing and amplifying the values, attitudes, and tasks of later life individuation. This seminar will include multimedia lecture, analysis of multiple film clips, cross-cultural ways of knowing, and practice uncovering metaphor and meaning via cinema’s fundamental language of dream.