Penelope
Brad Lichtenstein • 53m
Directed by Brad Lichtenstein • Documentary • 2013 • 53 minutes
What happens when a nursing home decides to throw out the bingo boards and take on the Odyssey instead? Amazing things — that’s what.
Penelope follows the story of residents of a midwestern care facility, some with severe dementia, as they collaborate with playwright Anne Basting and Sojourn Theater to create “Finding Penelope”, a play reinterpreting Homer’s Odyssey to tell it from Penelope’s point of view. From reading the Odyssey together to learning Greek and eventually putting on a professional play featuring scenes all over the nursing home and an audience of over 400, Penelope is a gorgeous expression of how the arts can transform the experience of aging.
Whether you want to be entertained, you help care for older adults in your life, you’re an artist or you are looking for your own adventure — you’ll love Penelope.
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