Canadian TV viewers
to see movie prize
winner on elderly - “Rage Against the Darkness”…102-year young actress
stars in documentary about growing old and moving to nursing home
Sept. 9, 2004 – The
prize winning documentary, Rage Against the Darkness, which was shot
over three years and follows four families through the crisis of putting
an elderly relative into a seniors’ home, will come to Canadian
television this month.
From Emmy
Award-winning director John Kastner, the powerful five-hour series
tackles a subject that haunts so many Canadians-particularly baby
boomers-as they face the dilemma of what to do with aging parents. Rage
Against The Darkness airs on CBC Television Wednesday, Sept. 15 (Bunny
and Leona) and Thursday, Sept. 16 (Gert’s Secret) from 8 to 10 p.m. and
Sunday, Sept. 19 (Living Dangerously) from 7 to 8 p.m.
Rage Against The
Darkness is both heart-wrenching and hilarious thanks to a cast of
captivating seniors, including 102-year-old Gert Stevenson, one of the
most delightful characters to light up any screen. It has already won
several awards, including Best Canadian Documentary Feature at the Hot
Docs Festival, Finalist at the prestigious Prix Italia and a Silver
Chris Award.
Kastner’s
unprecedented access to media-wary retirement homes, as well as inside
the minds of the seniors and families featured in Rage Against The
Darkness, makes this one of the most ambitious television series ever
made on the usually hidden world of seniors’ homes. From the first
family feud over what to do with Mother, to the wrenching transition to
a seniors’ home, to filming a year in the life of an institution,
Kastner reveals what usually goes on out of sight.
Bunny and Leona
(Sept. 15 at 8 p.m.): The story of two sisters whose lives are torn
apart after living together for 30 years when they are forced to move
into separate seniors’ homes.
Gert’s Secret (Sept.
16 at 8 p.m.): A 102-year-old star is born. Gert Stevenson is a happy
survivor of one of society’s unhappiest institutions: a nursing home.
While other residents struggle to survive, Gert has learned the art of
living well. What is her secret?
Living Dangerously
(Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.): Two seniors battle families who want to put them
in institutions. Despite major health problems, they’re willing to risk
their lives to live alone at home.
Rage Against The
Darkness will also air on CBC Newsworld. Bunny and Leona airs Friday,
Sept. 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT; Gert’s Secret airs Saturday, Sept. 18 at 10
p.m. ET/PT; and Living Dangerously airs Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.
ET/PT.
Produced, directed
and written by John Kastner. Producers for CBC are Marie Natanson,
Hilary Armstrong and Charlotte Odele. Jerry McIntosh is Director of
Independent Documentaries.
Episode
information, John Kastner’s biography and full production credits can be
found at
jskastner.com.
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winner on elderly - “Rage Against the Darkness”…102-year young actress
stars in documentary about growing old and moving to nursing home