Self

A woman, an artist and dancer, sets out to reclaim her childhood memories shared with her late grandmother—a bond forged through their mutual passion for painting. Through the delicate recovery of her grandmother’s floral works, she engages in a silent dialogue with the gestures of an ancient practice. She conjures a fictional exchange, a spellbinding journey between dimensions. This intimate quest transcends disciplines, seeking intergenerational connection and answers.
"Welcome to the World of Dementia" is an NHK program adapted from the book "A Travel Guide to the World of Dementia" by Japanese author Yusuke Kakei. The protagonist embarks on a journey through the "world of dementia," encountering a specific symptom of dementia on each trip. For example, in a village of faceless people, he cannot see the faces of his friends, reflecting the difficulties dementia patients face in recognizing faces, friends, and family members. It metaphorically illustrates "the world through the eyes of dementia patients," leading viewers to understand the symptoms and physical and mental changes of dementia.

The director's mother is 90 years old—and is beginning to forget herself. Not only herself, but everything else as well. She has dementia. Only her faith and her tireless knitting of exclusively blue socks keep her alive. The director, whose relationship with his mother has been very tense throughout his life, approaches the dissolution of his mother's ego in this experimental and essayistic film with the support of Didier Eribon, Simone de Beauvoir, Norbert Elias, Jean Améry, and others. In addition to this very personal story, he also tells a universal story about the process of aging, about repression, but also about rebellion in dealing with and interacting with aging people.