Ray Pride

Another genial hybrid, another glorious bastard, as storytelling thrives and the general run of studio movies seem ever more sclerotic: "Assisted Living," Eliot Greenebaum's ambitious day-in-the-life comedy set in an actual assisted-living facility in Kentucky works documentary-style with real residents, and it's a rare beauty with great heart. A deserving Grand Jury Prize winner at Slamdance 2003, "Assisted Living" is smart, surreal, and full of life. Greenebaum was only 22 when he began shooting in his hometown of Louisville, with the insight that "filming in a nursing home afforded me the unique opportunity to create scenes that were literally neither fact nor fiction." The narrative's structured around the last day of work for 27-year-old Todd (Michael Bonsignore), a quirky stoner janitor at the home who finds uncommon affinity with the seniors on his rounds, sharing pranks with them. Demonstrating an uncommon lack of condescension in its depiction of aging and the haze of the early stages of Alzheimer's, "Assisted Living" is an audacious work of hope, compassion and grace, with a lovely ending. There is life unto death and hope for idiosyncratic regional filmmaking. Co-starring "The staff and residents of Masonic Home of Louisville." 77m. 35mm. Greenebaum will appear for Q&As after Friday and Saturday's screenings.

"Assisted Living" opens Friday at Facets.

(2005-03-22)

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