Review of Alive Inside (2014) by Charlie M — 23 Feb 2015

Many people on social media will remember the story of Henry which went viral the last year. That was just a small chunk of the beauty that exists within this project. Sense memory is very strong in eliciting deep rooted events from the past, and with just an iPod and some Big Band music Dan is able to show how much lies beneath in the minds of these forgotten people. Watching their eyes widen with joy is one thing, but to hear the previously catatonic become so chatty about their olden days is electric.

I was curious to see how they'd fill out 77 minutes on this topic, so it's only a matter of time to where this becomes a mix of Mr. Holland's Opus and Awakenings as they delve into where music comes from and why it's so important to our humanity. Moreover, they also discuss the missteps that have been made in elder care for the past 50 years, but luckily it doesn't become preachy or dark. My thoughts on this movie come from a very personal place as I have had 3 grandparents who suffered from Alzheimer's, no doubt anyone who has a family member with dementia will be affected by the power this film.