Getting older doesn’t only mean fragility. It may involve unexpected love, loneliness, government control, caregiving, guilt, rebellion or wisdom. In this post, we explore five unique films that portray the complexities of ageing — with empathy, depth and striking narrative styles from different corners of the world.
Suk Suk (Hong Kong, 2019) – A late love under the radar
Two elderly men, both grandfathers, meet in Hong Kong and fall in love. In this tender, quietly devastating film, patriarchal traditions and personal desires clash with dignity and restraint. Suk Suk does not idealize its protagonists — instead, it captures the subtle ache of unlived lives, fleeting moments of intimacy, and the limits imposed by society and family on elderly queer identities.
The Mole Agent (Chile, 2020) – Spying on solitude
In this peculiar blend of documentary and fiction, an 80-something man is hired to infiltrate a nursing home. What begins as a detective story slowly evolves into a deeply human portrait of care, abandonment, and resilience among older people. The camera stays respectful, yet captures the silent tragedies of routine and forgotten companionship with astonishing emotional power.
For 80 Days (Spain, 2010) – Time waits for no love
Two women, once childhood friends, reunite in their later years in the Basque Country. The dormant feelings that resurface between them ignite a narrative about second chances, rural repression, and what it means to live authentically — even late in life. A rare gem that treats both age and queerness with grace and complexity.
Plan 75 (Japan, 2022) – When life becomes optional
In a disturbing dystopian near-future, Japanese elders are encouraged to voluntarily end their lives at age 75 to ease the burden on society. Through different characters — a low-income woman, a bureaucrat, and a migrant worker — the film explores themes of economic utility, human dignity and societal neglect, revealing how age can be politically constructed as disposable.
Blaga’s Lessons (Bulgaria, 2023) – From loss to transgression
After the sudden death of her husband and a cruel phone scam, a retired teacher’s life crumbles. But Blaga won’t let herself become invisible. This gritty, gripping drama shows how systemic cruelty can provoke unexpected survival instincts, and how ageing doesn’t always make us docile — it can also turn us dangerously aware.
Aging is inevitable, but how we understand it — and how it’s represented — can still surprise us. These films reflect on how love, injustice, fear, and dignity evolve with time, leaving no stage of life untouched by drama, complexity, or beauty.
