I Am I

I was surprised at the storyline of this movie. It actually is very similar to my own life experience. My father was in the Navy during World War II and survived horrific battles in the South Pacific. He served on the first US aircraft carrier to survive a kamikaze crash on the wooden flight deck (along with a Japanese torpedo hit on the side of the ship 16 minutes later). As I grew into my teens dad's war memories were starting to affect him more and more. He suffered from early onset dementia in the last 30 years of his life. At 85 years of age, after he and my mother were admitted into a nursing home within 3 weeks of each other (after she had been hospitalized the day before Dad was admitted) he considered me his wife.

By then my hair was grayish white and because he had forgotten who I was for so many years, I was only too happy to let him think so, without ever saying I was his wife. But I let him know that he was loved and wished him God's blessing every time I saw him and sat with him. Whenever I visited I would bring mom and dad together into a side room, because they both had to be rolled in their wheelchairs from their respective rooms.

I would always tell dad "look-it's Mom!" He would get a very happy look on his face and I would ask mom to hold his hand. And that would make me very happy! After taking mom back to her room and returning to dad, he would think I was her again. After so many years of being deprived of being acknowledged as his daughter, I was thrilled to make these emotional connections during his last two years of life. I really appreciate the gentle and compassionate tone of this movie, along with the wonderful acting, and the fine direction and screenplay of the leading actress. Well done!

This film started out with an interesting premise. A woman tries to get to know the father who disappeared from her life when she was a baby by taking on the role of her mother.

The father, now in a care home, is stuck in the past, and recognizes/mistakes the daughter for the wife. Since it's the only way to get to know and understand him, and perhaps why he left the family, she plays along.

Jocelyn Towne plays the role extremely well, with lots of sensitivity. I thought Jason Ritter as the father's caretaker was very good . Very nice acting.

And the overall story is engaging. As the movie progresses, things get more complicated for the daughter as other family members and her husband become aware of what she's up to with her estranged father.

It seemed like there was going to be some real resolution at the end of the film. But I didn't think it resolved at all.

It was a completely retrograde ending. Not satisfying in the least in light of the rest of the movie.

I thought it was going somewhere. My mistake!

I'd give it one or two stars, but the acting was good, and I'd hate to seem to pan the actors for a bad screenplay.

There are not many movies that deal with getting older, being a care giver or being in an assisted living facility. Mom was diagnosed with alzheimers 10 years ago. Went from being someone who was very independent to finally in a special chair not knowing any of us. Mom passed peacefully last September going from her own happy but confined world to being whole again in Heaven. I am I brought back so many memories, walking outside to see the gardens of her new home that she easily accepted, then using a walker and wheel chair. Ms Towne has not only brought the feelings of the client/Gene but the entire family. I laughed, I cried and the emotion put forth by the entire cast and crew especially Ms Towne and Kevin. The scene of gene dancing with the ladies reminded me so much of the annual senior prom. Gene could have danced with Mom or I anyday. I wish nothing but the very best to the entire cast and crew with many accolades to come