CLEVELAND FILM FESTIVAL REVIEWS
Programmer 1:
This powerful, thought-provoking documentary grabs viewers' attention and absorbs them into the tragic mystery of Nancy's disappearance in plain sight. Many viewers will identify with the situation because most people's lives have been touched at some point by someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. But this story goes beyond the tragedy of the disease to delve into related subjects often overlooked by other Alzheimer stories, such as wandering, the homeless, healthcare bureaucracy, and unidentified patients. Excellent cinematography and effective graphics and animation keep the documentary visually interesting so that talking heads are kept at a minimum. There are fascinating sidebars, such as homelessness in Los Angeles and an animated explanation of Alzheimer's disease. Many points will strike home with viewers, such as the fear of disappearing in the healthcare system or losing a loved one, not just to dementia but also physically. There are haunting touches, such as the use of home video clips bringing Nancy to life or surveillance footage of her wandering that fateful day as a leitmotif. The story also benefits from her warm, personable and sympathetic husband and parents and their moving dedication to finding her. The music soundtrack adds to the suspense and apprehension. As upsetting as this story could be, especially in light of Nancy's sad and unresolved death, her loved ones keep it from being a downer. There's redemption in knowing that Nancy's case inspired a movement to put trackable bracelets on wandering patients. A situation that many viewers fear became a reality for Nancy's family. It's a timely and well-done story that's sure to generate a positive response from audiences and keep them talking about what they saw long after they leave the theater.
Programmer 2:
Where is Nancy starts off as a true crime story about a missing person and evolves into a story of hope for caregivers of people with alzheimer’s and autism as the issue becomes more visible and some actionable steps are taken to deal with some aspects of it. Nancy is a victim of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her unassuming husband, Kirk,, makes a valiant effort to retrace her steps and figure out to where she has wandered off.
Within the first ten minutes, it is clearly established that Nancy has Alzheimers, she wandered off, and has been missing for two years. This narrative continues in various forms for nearly another ten minutes. The repetitive nature of the beginning and the extended scenes following her elderly parents around her childhood home reminiscing causes one to wonder what the rest of the film could possibly be about because the beginning, middle, end and irresolvable problem seemed to have already been shown. At this point, the film gets more interesting as the medical aspects of Alzheimers are explained by an expert and a first-hand account from friends explain the process of Nancy’s rapid deterioration. The issue of homelessness in Los Angeles, particularly Skid Row, and the county planner’s views on it shed a newer perspective on this public health crisis. With Nancy’s husband’s tireless efforts and attempts to keep his missing wife’s plight in the news, he plays a pivotal role in moving legislation forward to purchase tracking bracelets for at risk people who may wander into harm’s way. To date there have been fourteen Autistic and Alzheimers patients found. The explanation of how the detective tries to filter through information from other communities without a clear protocol of disseminating information is also quite interesting. The second half of the film truly offers a measurable way to shift this problem from being a family problem to a community-wide crisis requiring multiple ways to deal with it.
This film addresses the issues of finding missing persons with just enough emotion to keep it from being another whodunnit show while offering perspectives on ways to deal with it.
Programmer 3:
Where is Nancy is a riveting documentary that starts as a true mystery, building tension, and ends with a sad yet satisfying conclusion. The beginning of the film immediately draws the viewer in with the music building tension and the shots of the recreated scene, followed by Nancy walking off out of focus of the camera. The music throughout this documentary works so well, like the scenes of Skid Row with the driving repetitive music building an almost fearful feeling. And at the end of the film, the music ends with what sounds like a dying heartbeat. The interviews with Nancy's friends where we learn about her progression to alzheimers are heartwarming and tragic, and I was particularly struck by one friend's comment “It's hard to remember my friend and not the disease”.
I truly enjoyed this film, and like the search for Nancy, nothing was left out. The film has a satisfying conclusion with LA Found being used all over the city to find missing persons. There are elements of the mystery everywhere when we follow the detective around looking for Nancy or watch her on the cameras walking down the street. There are educational scenes with great animations that teaches the viewer about Alzheimers in a very clear-cut fashion. It is truly an interesting subject.
