Dick Johnson is Dead

⭐ 9.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

Oh boy was this a tough watch, but in all the best ways. A documentarian focuses her camera on her own father, trying to come to terms with his aging and eventual death. Her father is the sweetest man alive, with a love of chocolate cake and his trendy nap chair. His smile is contagious, and watching him retire and move in with his daughter is a sad but inevitable transition.

But as you get to know more about him, the pit in your stomach grows as you begin to love him and and brace yourself for losing him. He talks about his wife's Alzheimer's, what it was like losing her, the burden he feels he is now placing on his daughter, and it is so easy to put yourself in his position, or at least relate him to the aging people in your own life.

There are many moments of joy, and the love he has for his family is so clear. But man, growing old is the worst, and it is impossible not to cry seeing him struggle.

The director does this weird thing where she stages his death throughout the film, recording it with him and stuntmen, almost as if to prepare herself for that moment. It is kind of strange, and the movie goes a bit avant-garde imagining him in heaven. It's her movie, and I guess she felt it needed some more artistic flair instead of being a pure documentary, but it's not want I wanted spread throughout what is almost a memoir.

I cannot recommend this highly enough, especially if you are looking to cry on a Friday night. Calling my grandma the day after seemed the most important thing I could do, and I think that speaks to how powerful this film is.