Alive Inside

Alive Inside is a captivating documentary that sheds light on the profound impact music has on individuals struggling with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. This powerful and thought-provoking film, directed by Michael Roskam's protégé Gerda Lundby, and written by Michael Rossato-Bennett, delves deep into the lives of those afflicted by these conditions, who are often left to suffer in isolation within the walls of nursing homes. The documentary focuses on Henry Ansbacher, Dan Cohen, a music aficionado who stumbles upon an extraordinary opportunity to revolutionize the way we perceive and treat those living with Alzheimer's. Dan, a social worker at New York's New York City Administration for Children's Services, discovered that his experiences with seniors in these institutions were often sorrowful and devoid of meaningful connections. His initial approach of simply listening to their stories yielded profound empathy for these patients. He soon realized, however, that listening alone was insufficient; it needed something more to rekindle their lost passions, something that would awaken the essence of their fading memories. Dan had witnessed firsthand that for the seniors he was working with, listening to the tunes they loved was an extraordinary way to revive their connection with the past and ease their current sufferings. The recollections they harbored of those songs sparked moments of clarity and peace that brought tears to their eyes – and in the case of the patients' families, their eyes as well. Upon sharing these experiences with others, many began to share similar experiences, demonstrating the profound impact of music on their lives. The filmmakers follow Dan's journey, documenting his outreach project – called Music & Memory – as he embarks on a mission to bring personalized music to seniors in care facilities across the United States. Dan uses portable MP3 players with headsets to create customized playlists of songs from the residents' youth, carefully curated to match the residents' diverse musical tastes. By reawakening these dormant memories, Dan aims to bring some degree of purpose and joy to the lives of these people, who are often forgotten or ignored. The documentary introduces us to a diverse group of seniors living with dementia and Alzheimer's, each with their own distinct story, experiences, and musical preferences. Through the power of music, these individuals begin to reconnect with their past and, in doing so, rediscover a part of themselves that had been lost. One such individual is Henry Ansbacher, whose life story is woven into the narrative. The elderly gentleman was a prisoner of war during World War II, but music saved him from the horrors of concentration camp, when the songs he knew from home gave him his sanity back in a brutal time, when nothing else was possible. After being rescued, Henry's connection to these songs deepened further, and he eventually started a dance band that played his favorite tunes. As Dan embarks on his mission, we see firsthand the transformative effects music has on the seniors and the staff working at these facilities. The documentary's poignant portrayal exposes the stark contrast between the often-distant medical professionals at these facilities and the empathetic approach that Dan brings to his work. Alive Inside not only celebrates the triumphs of Music & Memory's efforts but also highlights the broader societal implications of Alzheimer's disease and dementias on our lives. It emphasizes the cultural stigmas associated with the elderly and dementia, shedding light on the way these diseases challenge our perceptions, our understanding of identity, and our capacity to connect with those around us. At its core, Alive Inside serves as a call to action, encouraging viewers to reconsider their assumptions about Alzheimer's and dementia. It reveals that the people suffering from these diseases are not mere statistics or case studies but rather individuals with stories, experiences, and emotions. The film serves as a testament to the incredible power of music to bridge the divide between past and present, between memory and the void of forgetfulness. In the end, Alive Inside is a touching reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion in caring for those afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The story leaves the viewer with a lasting impression of music's redemptive power, its ability to heal wounds, revive connections, and breathe life into fading memories.