We’ve probably heard it many times before. Different directors send such an important message, and each brings to life his own vision of it.
Regardless of the result, believing in this “should” is crucial for understanding the purpose of such a film as Not to Forget, the touching and stellar favorite Valerio Zanoli. This is not a film that seeks ambition, putting its outstanding elements at the forefront of an independent film. Zanoli’s mission is reasonable, but that doesn’t mean he approaches his company with a cursory glance. On the contrary, the story in Not Forgetting is something that will definitely stay with you.
We must not forget the story of Chris, a self-centered young man who moved from one foster family to another. He is involved in misdemeanors, and even when he decides to represent himself at trial, he does not pay attention to the judge. Until one day a very smart judge (Olympia Dukakis in her recent role) decides to “punish” him in another way: he must live with his grandmother and take care of everything within his reach. Away from everything, from his past life, from his friends and from everything that made him a spoiled child.
His grandmother Melody (played well by Karen Grassle) suffers from Alzheimer’s. There is a man who cares about her, and he makes Chris do the hard work. When he discovers that his grandmother is very, very rich, he has a plan. He and his friends decide to do everything possible to get the money. However, as secrets from the past emerge, things change for Chris. Maybe it’s time to leave that part of your life behind.
Sometimes uncomfortable (the comic tone is difficult to relate to the ultimate goal of the film), but emotionally powerful, not to mention that a person’s attitude to the film can raise awareness of a very important issue. It is not a documentary with thousands of testimonies. It is also not based on the point of view of an elderly person suffering from something he cannot understand. The screenwriter/director turns the wheel and innovates with a risky approach – the attitude of a young and selfish Millennial who cares about himself and nothing else.
This is risky because the traditions in this subgenre guarantee hours from the general public. Not to mention that it is unconventional, it still has more soul and emotional strength than many films. Alzheimer’s issue is a problem that is more common than you think. When a movie tells us about a well-designed script and doesn’t even try to color a very real one, it’s hard not to see it.
You may have heard of don’t forget it because there are 5 Academy Award winners in the cast (Tatum O’Neill, Louis Gossett Jr., George Chakiris, Olympia Dukakis and Cloris Leachman) and this is the last performance of Dukakis and Leachman. Zanoli did his job correctly, creating such a film with a dramatic basis that guarantees the strength of the scene.
However, do the best you can. After the credits, there’s a lot to talk about. We must recognize the existence of the issue and understand how it works. If the movie can help you with that, you should be welcome. Who knows, maybe it will help you at some point in your life. Then the film will triumph. If it becomes permanent. Not many independent films have that opportunity, so what would you say when we take a look at this other side of film that will make a difference in the near and not so near future?