This documentary follows George, an 87 year old recent widower, and his dog, Monica, who has become his best friend. Monica gives his life routine and meaning while also giving him daily exercise. However, Monica is an elderly dog battling kidney disease—so if you avoid movies where the dog dies, consider this your warning. It had me sobbing in my seat.
George lives in a unique neighborhood where a community of elderly people all seem to live independently, yet right on the same street. I loved the parts of the documentary focusing on these neighbors (as a side note, I found it remarkable that none of them used canes or walkers!)
The film also has a lot of focus on several scientists working in longevity research. One researcher in particular is developing the first longevity drugs specifically for dogs. She notes the medication would only extend a dog's life by about a year, but given how relatively short a dog's lifespan is, I am sure many dog owners would be happy for even one extra year. The documentary spends a lot of time focusing on her efforts to get FDA approval for the drug, with the ultimate hope that this drug can someday be applied to humans.
While the scientific side took up the majority of the film and was interesting, I definitely preferred hearing the individual perspectives of the elderly people featured. Would they even want a medication like this? Surprisingly, that question was never asked. When you really think about it, aging is inevitable. Is it truly worth taking a drug just to prolong life by a year or two?
This documentary definitely makes you think, and I am curious to see what continues of this research.
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