The first film for writer/director/producer Elliot Greenebaum, Assisted Living chronicles a day in the life of a young nursing home janitor. Michael Bonsignore stars as Todd, the pot-smoking custodian who takes pleasure in toying with the senile residents of the retirement community. When one of the residents mistakes Todd for her son, he finds himself becoming emotionally attached to his work for the first time. In order to lend the film a realistic fly-on-the-wall quality, Greenebaum shot it
in an actual nursing home, using real residents as many of the actors, and mixed in footage from a documentary he had made at the facility, blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Assisted Living won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
Authentically unconventional -- opening in the form of an almost convincing mock documentary -- but it gradually evolves into something more deeply affecting.
Sensitively considers the potential for liberation of the mind from the shackles of the aging body, no matter how deteriorated that physical human essence might be.
Sensitively considers the potential for liberation of the mind from the shackles of the aging body, no matter how deteriorated that physical human essence might be.
It's a slight movie, setting a poignant scene but not quite filling out even its running time. Still, I like its wry sense of humor and compassionate heart.
There is a tender, poignant story in here... worthy of a great 20-minute short, not enough to fill writer-director Elliot Greenebaum's rambling mock-documentary.
Maggie Riley, a former circus performer who suffered two strokes and a heart attack during the filming of this movie, is a revelation in this role [Mrs. Pearlman].
Great Movie, Working in assisted living and memory care this movie was really touching. It definitely shows what I and other co-workers go through on a day to day bases, and how much we really do care for our residents even if you don't see it.
I thought the film was generally boring. Either it should have been a documentary, a movie, or a mockumentary, but it's not sure what it wants to be. Slow moving, pointless really.
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