Abstract:
Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating and, currently, incurable disease that isn't often the subject of feature-length narratives within film. Over the past decade however films like Still Alice (2014) and Away from Her (2006) have shown that this disease can be addressed in a respectful and educational way that can help the general public understand the struggle that the sufferers of Alzheimer's disease and their loved ones experience. Will, the main character, struggles with the importance of family, friendship and is faced with choices that all young people make that shape their lives. These themes and ideas take on a different meaning within the setting of a memory care facility but they are still prevalent and through them the audience will be able to see that memory care patients are still people and still have something to offer. Cognizant aims to show that even people who have trouble remembering their own names at times still long to be cared for, still long for friendship and still long to be loved.
