September marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and while statistics and clinical information play a vital role in raising awareness, cinema has the unique ability to humanize these facts. With over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, including Alzheimer’s, films can offer a deeply personal look into the emotional and familial impact of this disease.
Movies are more than entertainment—they can spark meaningful conversations that facts alone cannot. A handful of films beautifully capture the personal struggles and relationships of those affected, giving us a glimpse into the complexities of living with Alzheimer’s.
Here are a few that should be on your must-watch list this September.
The Notebook (2004)
IMDb rating: 7.8/10
A timeless love story, The Notebook beautifully captures the enduring bond between Noah and Allie, even as Alzheimer’s threatens to erase their shared memories.
The Notebook isn’t just a love story—it’s a profound exploration of devotion, memory, and the enduring power of connection. As Noah reads their shared history to Allie, who is losing her memories to Alzheimer’s, the film portrays the heartbreak of watching a loved one slip away while still holding onto hope. The bond between Noah and Allie transcends time and illness, showing that love can persist even when memories fade. Their story serves as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the beauty of true, unconditional love.
Watch on: HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video
Still Alice (2014)
IMDb rating: 7.5/10
Kicking off the list with a movie that’s impossible to forget—ironic, given its subject matter. Still Alice tells the story of Dr Alice Howland (Julianne Moore), a brilliant linguistics professor who receives the life-altering diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s. The film is raw, deeply emotional, and an intimate portrayal of losing parts of yourself while trying to hold onto those you love. Moore’s performance earned her an Oscar, and it’s no wonder—her portrayal of Alice is vulnerable, nuanced, and devastatingly real.
What makes Still Alice stand out is how it highlights the journey of not just the person diagnosed but also the family around them. There’s pain, yes, but also moments of clarity, joy, and connection, reminding us that love endures even when memories fade. It’s the perfect film to remind viewers that Alzheimer’s, while heartbreaking, doesn’t take away a person’s essence.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
Three of Us (2023)
IMDb rating: 7.6/10
This small, intimate Indian drama didn’t make big waves globally, but it certainly should have. Three of Us quietly explores the emotional impact of dementia on a family as an elderly father begins showing signs of cognitive decline. What this film does so well is portray the subtleties of living with dementia: the small moments of forgetting, the frustration, and the deep desire for dignity and normalcy in a world that seems to be slipping away.
The film is a beautiful balance between sorrow and hope, with powerful performances that tug at your heartstrings. It’s a must-watch if you want a gentle, heartfelt story that doesn’t shy away from the realities of dementia but focuses on the strength of familial bonds that hold strong despite the disease.
Watch on: Disney+ Hotstar
Kishkindha Kaandam (2017)
IMDb rating: 6.8/10
This Malayalam movie is a surprising entry on this list, as its core isn’t about Alzheimer’s. Instead, it’s an action-packed narrative loosely inspired by the Ramayana. However, the film’s multi-layered storytelling is a striking depiction of memory loss and its impact on identity. The character battling dementia faces a journey akin to an epic quest, showing how memory, or the lack of it, is intrinsically tied to who we are.
While Kishkindha Kaandam offers a hopeful perspective through its mythological allegory, it shows that even when memories fade, the soul and spirit remain strong, anchored by love and purpose.
Watch on: Zee5
Sleeping Dogs (2023)
IMDb rating: 7.3/10
It is a noir-style mystery that uses Alzheimer’s as a plot device and a thematic exploration of memory. This film is darker than the others on this list but is no less powerful in depicting the disease. The protagonist, an ageing detective, is grappling with his faltering memory as he attempts to solve one last case. The Alzheimer’s angle gives the film an emotional depth as his mind becomes an unreliable narrator, raising the stakes and emotional tension.
It’s not just a film about a mystery—it’s a metaphor for the confusion and frustration that comes with memory loss. The character’s determination to hold onto his sense of self while battling his deteriorating mind offers a poignant message of resilience.
Black (2005)
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Bollywood’s Black is an emotionally charged powerhouse of a film that deals with a lot of themes—disability, education, and Alzheimer’s. Amitabh Bachchan plays a teacher who guides a blind and deaf girl, Michelle (Rani Mukerji), through life. But later in the movie, he begins to lose his battle with Alzheimer’s, reversing their roles as the student becomes the caretaker.
It’s a gut-wrenching story that touches on the loss of not just memory but also identity and dignity. Yet, there’s hope at its core. The bond between the two characters shows that even when a person begins to lose themselves, those who love them can provide strength, continuity, and meaning. It’s a beautiful portrayal of how care and compassion can keep people connected even when memories fail.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar
A Final Thought
Each of these films brings something unique to the conversation about Alzheimer’s and dementia, offering messages of hope, love, and resilience. As we focus on raising awareness this September, these movies remind us that although memory fades, the essence of who we are does not. They encourage us to treat those with Alzheimer’s not with pity but with empathy and understanding and to cherish the moments we share.
Watching films like these not only broadens our understanding of Alzheimer’s but can also inspire more compassionate care and meaningful connections in our own lives.
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