Facing Old Age And Mortality With A Sense Of Humour

I'm now convinced that the entire movie industry, not just Hollywood, is finally realizing the power of baby boomers. This is another movie about the inevitable lifestage of aging and passing, this time from France in French - Et Si On Vivait Tous Ensemble? (And If We All Lived Together?)

I went and saw it not just from a boomer's perspective, but because Jane Fonda has always expressed in her recent interviews that it's on her bucket list to act in another French movie - her third in her long film career - and she's the lead actress in this flick. As reported in her interview with The Canadian Press, there are thematic similarities between her new film and Prime Time, her 2011 book on old age that covered love, fitness, food and self-analysis. She laments that Hollywood is less interested in portraying life after retirement. At 74, Fonda rarely seems hung up on her age and continues to be a trailblazer in film, writing, speaking engagements and charity work.

So the movie confronts old age from the perspective of a group of Parisien seniors - two married couples and one permanent playboy. They are all stricken with serious illnesses, challenges of mortality and relationships with one another and their younger generations. But in subtle and gracious European style, the film stares at old age with audacity, optimism and a great sense of humour. Watching Fonda's smooth acting skills and flawless beauty at her age is the ultimate pleasure for me as a lifelong fan. Even though Fonda speaks fluent French (she studied art in Paris when she was young and her first husband was, of course, French director Roger Vadim), she still worked with a dialogue coach to get her lines perfect.

The only other recognizable actor is 68-year-old Geraldine Chaplin who looks painfully old and thin when compared to Fonda. Thirty-four-year-old Spaniard Daniel Bruhl also did a wonderful job playing the dogwalker Dirk, the only younger supporting actor in a movie anchored by seniors including Guy Bedos, Claude Rich, Pierre Richard and Bernard Malaka.

The concept of a group of lifelong senior friends living together and supporting each other instead of spending their winter years in seniors homes is refreshing. It's also sad and funny at the same time. My only criticism of the movie is the choice of English-language songs throughout the movie. Why try to appeal to an English-speaking audience when the entire film is in French?

For fellow Jane Fonda fans, the movie legend's next project includes a new book on teenage sex. I also understand that her African-American adopted daughter will be coming up with a new book sharing her experience of growing up with her adopted mom.