Best Before Passed?!

How do we think about old people? How are the elderly portrayed in Estonian fi lms? As troublesome old maids and obscene old men, as lonely and distressed oldies, or instead as happy-go-lucky grandmas and grandpas? The exhibition "Best before: PASSED?!" will help answer these questions.

Growing old is biologically coded into the life of every living being. The ageing of the population and the ability of countries to cope with it have triggered an increasingly broad discussion in Europe about ageing and its meaning for society. This exhibition was born out of a desire to participate in this discussion and explore how Estonian fi lm art has portrayed elderly characters and old age in re-independent Estonia. Why explore the theme of ageing through film?

Film art helps us understand the reality around us; it creates images we can identify with and helps us make sense of our actions. Representations created in film reflect and also shape the reality around us.
In order to study the meaningful and expressive representations of old age that have reached Estonian audiences through the screen, 12 students from different fields got together in Tallinn University's innovative and interdisciplinary course ELU (Elualasid Lõimiv Uuendus – Innovation Integrating Areas of Life) and started to analyse Estonian feature fi lms under the guidance of film and gender researchers.

We have brought the analysis of 21 films to this exhibition. The films include comedies, dramas, animations and family movies. Project participants focused on the portrayal in the films of old age, masculinity and femininity. In joint discussions, the negative and emphasized portrayal of elderly characters’ concerns or quirky habits, the characters' frequent health problems and loneliness caused sharp discussion.

However, care and love were also included among the topics covered. Forms created by students reveal profi les and relationships of elderly characters, and the meaning of old age from di erent perspectives. Visitors are o ered several ways to make sense of stereotypes, expectations and ideas about old age and the elderly in society.

Eventually, we all grow old!