Film analysis
Film Analyses, by Leo Castellani
Alive Inside: A small but vibrant Miracle…
Alive inside is the story of how music can awaken the soul even through the fog of Dementia. Thanks to the work of miraculous social worker Dan Cohen, elderlies can become vibrant and conscious in the depth of old age.
You see this effect early in the film. Charlie, an elderly African American geriatric spends his days hunched over his wheelchair, unresponsive. He no longer responds to questions about his youth or family.
We see him reincarnated into his life as a young minister. As soon as the headphones are put on him, he begins to sing along to his familiar hymns. While he does so, the room is brightened; his joy brings more to others.
After the last song, Charlie becomes fluent when asked about his past. Throughout the film, we follow Dan in his quest to bring the same results to seniors across America, and face shocking resistance. Apparently these results weren’t enough to convince the elder care practice.
The science about why music has this startling impact is fascinating, though controversial. Neurologist and author Oliver Sacks, one of the documentary’s talking heads, notes, “Music is inseparable from emotion.” This statement appears to be a main theme throughout the film.
Alive Inside also examines the uncomfortable attitudes toward aging in our youth-besotted culture, and the unfortunate decline of a tight knit family.
The substance of this documentary is four-star inspiring. A wonderful film, discovering the wondrous power music has over memory.
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