75 Times 40 Equals 3000 – Recommending a Documentary Celebrating “Lives Well Lived”

Over the weekend, I caught an uplifting movie, a documentary on Lives Well Lived. As the subtitle explains, the program “Celebrates the Secrets, Wit and Wisdom of Age.”  The filmmaker, Sky Bergman, was clearly inspired by the life story of her own grandmother, Evelyn Ricciuti, one of the stars of the show at age 103.

The filmmaker interviews 40 individuals, and the average age of the subjects must be well above 75 (the number that seems to have been used in calculating 3000 as the collective number of years of wisdom represented on this film).  I think the questions used to organize the interviews could be used to great effect in any class on aging.   

For example, how would you define “a life well lived?”

Several of the people interviewed had lives greatly affected by World War II, and those are among the most moving segments in the film. But I think equally impressive are the ways in which all the interviews revealed individuals who are fully engaged in life, love and passions.  You will definitely be impressed (inspired? motivated?) by the woman demonstrating yoga exercises!

For more background on the movie, read the Santa Barbara Independent Interview with the filmmaker.