Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)

Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)

Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020)

If you decide to watch one feel-good movie this year about dementia, it better be Dick Johnson Is Dead (2020). The titular Dick is Richard Johnson, a retired psychiatrist and the aging father of documentarian and cinematographer Kirsten Johnson. Soon after diagnosing dementia for her father, Kirsten decides to enlist Dick to create and record a series of fictional situations to help her and her father process his illness and eventual death.

While this contains some seriously emotional moments and realizations it is saturated with such tenderness and so many sweet interactions between her and her father that it never depresses or wallows. Dick is an amazing, caring, vulnerable, and funny human being that he really carries the film and makes this a pleasure to view. Also, Kirsten edits the film in such a way as to play with us and our expectations so she can end this film on a perfect note leaving us feeling hopeful.

Streaming on Netflix.

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