An image engraved into the memory…
A line of dialogue that repeats in your mind…
An emotion that cuts to the core…

The power of film and video to inform, inspire, and reshape possibilities is undeniable.  In 1980, a young filmmaker, Jim Vanden Bosch, began using film to look at aging in a “new” way – in a way that challenged stereotypes, that valued elderhood as a normal part of life, and that gave dignity to the life experiences and contributions of older adults.   Out of this new way of portraying elderhood, a non-profit company called Terra Nova Films was born.

With the premise that elderhood was as noteworthy as youth, Terra Nova quickly earned a reputation as the place to go for quality films on aging.   Determined not to “just make films”, Terra Nova made a solid commitment to use film to tell personal truths that showed the real-life triumphs and challenges of aging in our society.  Many of Terra Nova’s multiple award-winning films, including My Mother, My Father, A Thousand Tomorrows, More Than A Thousand Tomorrows, and Elder Abuse: 5 Case Studies can be found at our home site, Terra Nova Films, www.terranova.org. Click here for a list of Terra Nova-produced titles.

Movies About Aging and Elderhood is a natural offshoot of Terra Nova’s vision to further explore, analyze, and encourage new realities of healthy aging and resilience. Through reviews and discussions of films on aging, this site empowers viewers and readers to see aging as a natural continuum of life with new realms of possibility and growth. Our reviewers, Jim Vanden Bosch, founder and Executive Director of Terra Nova Films, and Rick Scheidt, Professor, Department of Applied Human Sciences, Kansas State University, and Rose Capp, author, film critic, and scholar, bring a fresh, lively, and holistic perspective to their reviews that question as well as inform.

Movies About Aging and Elderhood is a site for everyone.  The young and old, healthcare professionals, academics, gerontologists, and movie lovers at large will all find something of value here. Enjoy interesting film discussions and reviews, watch free films, engage your students, schedule a Watch Party, plan a library activity, check out upcoming events, or just kick back and browse.

We welcome you to learn and grow with us!