WALTER: Lessons from the World's Oldest People
October 2013
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Synopsis
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4.0
12 total
5 6
4 3
3 1
2 1
1 1
Gary Goldstein
There's certainly a profound and valuable documentary to be made about our eldest living senior citizens. Sadly, "Walter: Lessons From the World's Oldest People" isn't it.
Miriam Bale
The filmmakers are constantly on camera, eating tacos or commenting on the interviews with insight like this: "She's just such a sweet lady. She smiles all of the time."
Inkoo Kang
[A] dim-witted and embarrassing first-person documentary ...
imsweetleaf
old age a gift not given to everyone.... This is a wonderful film that allowed me my intelligence to look and consider life on life terms with my own understanding, by not forcing a direction and not controlling for a intended outcome of thought. Beautiful in it's refreshing return to look at life on life's terms, and not just what we have to say about it, or how we can manipulate this life given us. There is a point to this film without the in your face point... I appreciate being allowed to figure this out myself. Bravo. Wonderful editing. The makers of this film leaves the much to think about to the audience. Thank you for that.
Alice Fusco
SO disappointing - too much of filmmakers; not enough of Walter. I'm sorry, Hunter - I'm not "in cahoots" with anyone. Take this criticism as it is written - a sincere response from a person who LOVES listening to older people. I was SO excited to hear from the world's oldest people. The film opens with you and your fiance talking about the film, Valentine's Day, and showing you both eating. And then driving and talking and.... I was flabbergasted. I thought "it will pick up. It is 'Lessons from the World's Oldest People.' It will get there." It didn't. It got there a little bit, but not nearly enough. I expected to ONLY see older folks talking. Period. No one cares about your own musings and processes... and for heaven's sake - not your house! I was thunderstruck. My husband was writhing in agony. "Why are we seeing the people who should be BEHIND the camera? Why are we hearing ANYTHING from them? Did they actually read the title of their own film? Have they heard of 'editing'?" You folks had SUCH a great idea with this film! I want to hear EVERYTHING these elderly folks have to say! Not you- sorry. I'm extremely disappointed. I hope you have enough footage to give us JUST the elderly - NO other voices. I would love to see that.
Martin Larsson
Nice atmosphere This documentary is one of those films that you will probably not forget. Evolving around some of the oldest people in the world, it is an intimate invitation to reflections on personal values and their historical possibilities and constraints. But the film also portraits the contemporary fascination with age, numbers, statistics and records, and its role in media and politics, starting with the idea of making the film itself, and, implicitly, our attraction to the topic as viewers.
Critic reviews
Gary Goldstein
There's certainly a profound and valuable documentary to be made about our eldest living senior citizens. Sadly, "Walter: Lessons From the World's Oldest People" isn't it.
Miriam Bale
The filmmakers are constantly on camera, eating tacos or commenting on the interviews with insight like this: "She's just such a sweet lady. She smiles all of the time."
User reviews
old age a gift not given to everyone.... This is a wonderful film that allowed me my intelligence to look and consider life on life terms with my own understanding, by not forcing a direction and not controlling for a intended outcome of thought. Beautiful in it's refreshing return to look at life on life's terms, and not just what we have to say about it, or how we can manipulate this life given us. There is a point to this film without the in your face point... I appreciate being allowed to figure this out myself. Bravo. Wonderful editing. The makers of this film leaves the much to think about to the audience. Thank you for that.
![Alice Fusco avatar image](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7R_DRWRk_Uo/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAB0/CaME5upaMQk/w48-c-h48/photo.jpg)
SO disappointing - too much of filmmakers; not enough of Walter. I'm sorry, Hunter - I'm not "in cahoots" with anyone. Take this criticism as it is written - a sincere response from a person who LOVES listening to older people. I was SO excited to hear from the world's oldest people. The film opens with you and your fiance talking about the film, Valentine's Day, and showing you both eating. And then driving and talking and.... I was flabbergasted. I thought "it will pick up. It is 'Lessons from the World's Oldest People.' It will get there." It didn't. It got there a little bit, but not nearly enough. I expected to ONLY see older folks talking. Period. No one cares about your own musings and processes... and for heaven's sake - not your house! I was thunderstruck. My husband was writhing in agony. "Why are we seeing the people who should be BEHIND the camera? Why are we hearing ANYTHING from them? Did they actually read the title of their own film? Have they heard of 'editing'?" You folks had SUCH a great idea with this film! I want to hear EVERYTHING these elderly folks have to say! Not you- sorry. I'm extremely disappointed. I hope you have enough footage to give us JUST the elderly - NO other voices. I would love to see that.
![Martin Larsson avatar image](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TmD_hBgolgs/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAASk/YAZfopbCPX4/w48-c-h48/photo.jpg)
Nice atmosphere This documentary is one of those films that you will probably not forget. Evolving around some of the oldest people in the world, it is an intimate invitation to reflections on personal values and their historical possibilities and constraints. But the film also portraits the contemporary fascination with age, numbers, statistics and records, and its role in media and politics, starting with the idea of making the film itself, and, implicitly, our attraction to the topic as viewers.
![Tina Bundtrock avatar image](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pWmMB7I9sFk/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAIg/EKuoCGkdRX4/w48-c-h48/photo.jpg)
A must see Having worked with Walter while he lived in The Rainbow, as his scheduler of events, caretaker and "self proclaimed protector", I know that Walter would be proud to see the movie. Walter would have been appreciative in how he was respectively portaged as well as his fellow super centenarians. Walter was proud to educate whoever would listen to his message, "be kind to others, eat well, exercise and keep your mind busy". Thank you Hunter for capturing his message. I have faith that this message will inspire us to not think that our seniors are a lost generation.
Heartfelt and Sincere I saw this film at a screening in New York. The films real strength is that it doesn't throw facts and figures at you, or treat these people of extraordinary age like a circus act. Bypassing a standard 'Observe and Report' approach the filmmakers immerse themselves in the subject allowing the viewer to experience fleeting visits with these elders and then perhaps reflect upon their own lives and the people within it. A slowburner that provides good food for post viewing thought.
Cast and credits
Actors | Walter Breuning |
Director | Hunter Weeks |
Additional information
Audio language
Subtitles
English
Rental period
Start within 30 days, finish within 48 hours.
Run time
83 minutes
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