USA/2024 — directed by Sarah Friedland | 90 min.

Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), a retired cook living in California, prepares breakfast—a dish she seems to have made many times before, though small, puzzling errors now punctuate her familiar routine. When her son (H. Jon Benjamin) arrives to dine with her, she mistakes him for a suitor. Their “date” leads them to an assisted living facility, which Ruth does not remember having chosen for herself. There, she begins to accept the warmth and support of two care workers (Carolyn Michelle and Andy McQueen) and discovers new ways to ground herself in her body, even as her mind begins a journey of its own.

Writer-director Sarah Friedland’s coming-of-old-age feature compassionately follows the winding path of octogenarian Ruth’s memories and desires while remaining rooted in her sage perspective.

Special event! The showing on Sunday, June 29th will be followed by an in-person Q&A with cast member Carolyn Michelle and producer Matthew Thurm, hosted by DIA Film Curator Elliot Wilhelm.

Winner: Best Debut Film, Best Director, and Best Actress, 2024 Venice Film Festival.

“The delicacy of what acclaimed theater actor Chalfant does in this role is astounding. This is a finely wrought, infinitely tender movie.” —Allison Willmore, New York Magazine