Keith has mixed views on The Father, which he expresses beautifully, and, of course, poetically.

Hello, it’s Keith Oliver here, making a recording for the Dementia Diaries, in connection to the movie, The Father.

I have seen the film with a few friends, at the point of the film being released, and my views on it are mixed. I recognise the quality of the performance by Anthony Hopkins, but I would suggest that – whilst the role I’m sure had many challenges for him – it’s not as difficult to portray the character of someone with dementia in a one dimensional way, as it would in a more complex way, showing the good days and the bad. Personally I much preferred the movie Still Alice, though that had its issues I thought, in the final third of the movie.

Watching the film prompted me to write something poetic, which I’m going to share with you now, and it’s called Media Character. And maybe this sums up some of my views of the way that dementia is portrayed in films, such as The Father.

I dream of being a big screen hero
Riding off into the sun
Mission accomplished, deeds complete
Battles fought and always won

In TV drama or in film
It never ends well for us
Soap opera, documentary
It always was thus

We’re portrayed as someone to feel pity for
Or maybe even step away in fear
At best to seek elusive ways
For us to hold onto memories
We held as dear

The storyline unfolds, the character declines
Into the mists of dementia they fall
The audience accepts, as you would accept
We depart before our curtain call

Would an actor win awards
Stepping into our shoes
If the portrayal showed them living well?
I’ll leave that for you to suppose.

Thank you.