Alzheimer’s disease. One of the scariest diseases effecting people today. It destroys the memory and ostensibly erases who the person is. This HBO documentary introduces the viewer to several families dealing with the disease, explains what the disease is and tells us what scientists are doing today to find a cure.
It’s hard to critique a documentary like this. In the first couple episodes we are shown families dealing with Alzheimer’s. It’s really brutal and upsetting to see not only how the disease affects those with it, but their family members as well. It’s a devastating disease and these episodes do a very effective job of giving the viewer some insight of what it would be like to deal with the disease.
The last two episodes are effective teaching tools. They explain in detail what the disease is, what causes it and what is currently being done to stop or slow down it’s progression. However, these episodes are not nearly as engaging as the first few. But a documentary like this really isn’t supposed to be entertaining is it? You don’t watch something like this to be entertained, you watch it to learn, and learn you will. So in that it is a success.
This isn’t the most enjoyable couple of hours you will spend in front of your TV, but Alzheimer’s is a very real and very dangerous disease, and it would certainly behoove you to learn all you can about it. This box set is a fantastic and effective teaching tool and should be required viewing for everyone.
Episodes:
Disc One:
The Memory Loss Tapes (80 min.) (5/10/09)
In this heart-wrenching first episode we are shown several cases of people and families dealing with different levels of Alzheimer’s from a woman who’s had it for only two months to a man who has had it six years. It’s devastating to see how these people’s minds slip away from them. You see woman learn she can no longer drive her car, a man who can’t remember his family or where he is from one moment to the next, but he can still sing entire songs and others stories like this.
Caregivers (48 min.) (5/12/09)
This episode follows five caregivers and the family member that they care for. Children, husbands and wives, they all share their heartbreaking stories on how they cope with dealing with caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.
Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? (30 min.) (5/11/09)
This episode, hosted by Maria Shriver, focuses on kids and how they deal with family members with Alzheimer’s. Also, Shriver pulls from her years of experience to provide advice on how to deal with this very difficult situation.
Disc Two:
Momentum In Science (part 1 & 2) (120 min.) (5/10/09)
While not as engaging as the other episodes, neither is at as depressing. In fact, these two episodes provide a potential light at the end of the tunnel. Scientists explain exactly what causes the disease and what they’re doing to find a cure. This isn’t what one would call fun viewing but it is very educational.
The show is presented in a widescreen format. Sound is in 2.0 Stereo Sound. This is a crisp clean looking documentary. It looks and sounds great.
Disc 3:
The Supplementary Series: (238 min.) These are twelve short episodes that expand on subjects covered in Momentum in Science. A lot of it feels like repeated information, but it does give more information on the subjects. They’re kind of extended scenes. They really annoying part is that they all have the same opening credits sequence. At almost four hours long you could really watch this or the Momentum episodes, there is no reason to watch both.
Program Guide: You also get a fifteen page program guide featuring key information about the series.
While not an exciting or fun DVD, this is a very important documentary about a vicious disease that has the potential to affect all of us. You owe it to yourself to rent this and learn about Alzheimer’s. However I don’t really know about buying it. I don’t know how often you’re going to want to rewatch it, it’s really depressing.
HBO presents The Alzheimer’s Project. Produced by Sheila Nevins and Maria Shriver. Running time: 533 minutes on 3 discs. Not Rated. Released on DVD: July 28, 2009. Available at Amazon.com.
