• Drama

Familiar Touch 2024

Familiar Touch is a 2024 American drama film written and directed by Sarah Friedland in her narrative feature directorial debut. The film stars Kathleen Chalfant, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Andy McQueen, and H. Jon Benjamin. It had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 3, 2024, where it won the Lion of the Future for Best Debut Film, the Orizzonti Award for Best Director, and Best Actress for Chalfant.🎭 Plot Summary Familiar Touch is a coming-of-(old)age film that follows Ruth, an octogenarian woman transitioning to life in an assisted living facility. As she contends with her shifting memory, age identity, and desires, the film explores her complex relationships with herself and her caregivers. The narrative delves into themes of dementia, identity, and the nuances of aging.🌍 Filming Locations The film was primarily shot at Villa Gardens, a continuing care retirement community in Pasadena, California. Residents and staff participated in the filmmaking process, contributing as both cast and crew members.🧠 Critics Familiar Touch has received widespread critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 100% approval rating based on 16 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. Metacritic assigns it a score of 89 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim." Critics have praised the film's sensitive portrayal of aging and dementia. Variety described it as "sharp as it is soft," capturing both the terror of losing one's familiar life and the intermittent joy of rediscovering it. The Hollywood Reporter noted its "great emotional heft" and "dignity and empathy afforded to dementia patients," which is often rare on-screen.🏆 Awards and Recognition Venice Film Festival 2024: Lion of the Future – Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Best Debut Film Orizzonti Award for Best Director (Sarah Friedland) Orizzonti Award for Best Actress (Kathleen Chalfant) Independent Spirit Awards 2025: Nominee: Someone to Watch Award (Sarah Friedland) Other Festival Selections: BFI London Film Festival 2024 AFI Fest 2024 Stockholm International Film Festival 2024 São Paulo International Film Festival 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival 2024 Singapore International Film Festival 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival 2024 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2024 Mill Valley Film Festival 2024 Leeds International Film Festival 2024 Leiden International Film Festival 2024 Cucalorus Film Festival 2024 American Film Festival (Poland) 2024 Indie Memphis 2024 Belfast Film Festival 2024 Tromsø International Film Festival 2025 International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg 2024 Valladolid International Film Festival 2024 FUNDOS Award at Valladolid International Film Festival 2024🔮 Release Information Familiar Touch is scheduled for theatrical release in the United States on June 20, 2025, via Music Box Films.📝 Conclusion Familiar Touch is a powerful and tender debut film by Sarah Friedland that explores the rarely depicted emotional landscape of aging, memory loss, and personal identity through the story of Ruth, an elderly woman navigating life in a care facility. With a standout performance by Kathleen Chalfant and a sensitive, nuanced script, the film has earned critical acclaim and prestigious awards, including multiple honors at the Venice Film Festival. Its upcoming U.S. release on June 20, 2025, is highly anticipated, marking it as a must-watch for audiences interested in intimate, character-driven drama with a profound social lens. Read More

• 2025
• 1 h : 30 min
• 123 views
• 6.742
• PG-13