Bitter, Sad or Nonexistent: Why Does Hollywood Hate Boomer Couples?
February 21, 2008 | 3 Comments
Julie Christie in Away From Her Julie Christie is an amazing actress. Her performance, in what’s been called the Alzheimer’s movie, Away from Her, is Oscar-worthy. Sophisticated, subtle and very powerful, it’s a grown up film about grown-ups in a long-standing marriage of forty years, what I lovingly call ‘the back-end of marriage’.
If you haven’t seen the film, don’t miss it when it hits Netflix . It’s such a disarming story; it stirred up a lot of thought at our house especially because we’ve had health threats that demanded we consider dark days that may be ahead. The movie also highlighted, for me, how infrequently we see ‘mature’ couples in the media. Alright, I mean old. I was reminded of that again this morning when I heard an NPR interview with Julie about the body of her work. (Did you know she’s had a very long career and won several Oscars and nominations, including two for performances she gave after 50?)
I’ve noticed that older couples are portrayed on TV as mean and bitter. For example, have you ever seen TV comedy show, Til Death? The couple hate each other. Could you get a more gruesome picture of love in the later years? The movies aren’t much better, and may be worse. Since not many actresses survive to act past forty it makes it hard to have middle aged couples (or older) at all. I hear that Brothers and Sisters does a nice job with Sally Field and Danny Glover, but I think that may be it.
Happily things may be changing. HBO featured Jane Alexander as part of a loving mature couple having -gasp!-sex. And, I’m not talking ‘close-your-eyes-and think of grand-kids’ sex. It was lusty stuff that made me pretty hopeful for the future. Tell Me You Love Me was an amazingly frank look inside the relationships of several married couples. There were times when I had to run from the room because the emotions were so raw, but I never missed an episode.
It felt real, like my life. I want more Tell Me and I don’t think I’m the only one.
Anyway, <i>Why are midlife couples ignored in the media?</i>
Enjoy this post? Here are some more posts we think you might like:Blogging Boomer Carnival #68 at Boomer Chronicles
Does Marriage Suck?
Bop on over to Boomer Chronicles for Carnival #78