KINGSTON — The uplifting documentary “Alive Inside,” showing how personal music revives memories in people with dementia, will be screened at 7 p.m. on Jan. 18 at the Old Dutch Church, 272 Wall St. in Kingston, as part of the Movies With Spirit community film series.
The film follows social worker Dan Cohen, who decides on a whim to bring iPod portable media players to a nursing home.
To his and the staff’s surprise, many residents suffering from memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia suddenly recall memories that might otherwise be inaccessible due to their condition when they listen to familiar music from their past.
With great excitement, Cohen turns to renowned neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, who then works with Cohen to investigate the mysterious ways music functions inside our brains and in our lives.
The film, by Michael Rossato-Bennett, also follows Cohen as he fights the medical establishment and Big Pharma to demonstrate how music that holds special significance or emotional connections for people can combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self.
The 2014 film runs 1 hour 18 minutes and is not rated by the Motion Picture Association. Its 12 critic and festival awards include the Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award as the favorite movie chosen by festival attendees.
The film’s trailer can be found on YouTube at tinyurl.com/AliveInside-MoviesWSpirit.
The screening will be followed by a discussion. Refreshments will be served.
Attendees over age 12 are asked to contribute $10 a person.
Movies With Spirit screenings comply with all federal, state and local health and safety protocols, including those of the screening venues.
The monthly Movies With Spirit series, organized by Gerry Harrington of Kingston, seeks to stimulate joy and wonder, inspire love and compassion, and help people understand their connection with others and with life itself. It supports all cultures, faiths and beliefs while transcending them.
The films are shown in diverse places of worship and culture in Ulster and Dutchess counties at 7 p.m., on the third Saturday of every month. Movies With Spirit has no religious affiliation.
For more information about the “Alive Inside” screening and the rest of the series, call Harrington at 845-389-9201 or write to him at [email protected]. Details are also available on Movies With Spirit’s new Facebook page, tinyurl.com/MoviesWithSpiritFacebookPage.
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