title: Death, rejuvenation and immortality in film: On Golden Pond (1981), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) and Cocoon (1985).
abstract: This paper seeks to highlight the developmental tasks of late adulthood with the help of three Hollywood movies. These tasks include: (i) struggling to maintain physical integrity, (ii) handling the "wound of mortality", (iii) maintaining activity and sexuality, and (iv) becoming wise. Among other challenges faced by an individual during this phase of life are loss of love objects, illness and possible compromise of mental functions, de-cathexis of material possessions and coming to terms with one's approaching death. All sorts of healthy and unhealthy psychosocial maneuvers come to the surface as a result of these stresses. This paper illustrates these dilemmas and their potential solutions via a discussion of three movies.
authors.affiliation: University of California at San Diego, USA. calcolarusso@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Calvin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Colarusso
mesh_terms: D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D009040:Motion Pictures; D012060:Rejuvenation