Four years ago he could already see the first signs, reflects David Sieveking in his very personal documentary portrait of his mother, Gretel (73). The many notes as reminders, the Christmas gift she forgot. Now he has come back to record how Gretel and his father, Malte, a retired mathematician, face up to her advancing Alzheimer’s.
In the 1960s, Gretel and Malte were active in the student movement and had an open relationship. Their bond only just survived, and is now put to the test again by other factors. David experiences how difficult it is to care for his mother, but the question of whether a nursing home would be better is painful and hard to answer.
They visit old haunts and Malte wonders whether he should have been there more for her. There are sides to Gretel that he only now discovers. Forget Me Not was named best film at the Critics’ Week in Locarno.
Film details
- Country of production
- Germany
- Year
- 2012
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2013
- Length
- 88'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
