Premiere Run July 11–17

Special Q+A at Friday’s 6pm Show!

We invite you to join us at Friday’s 6pm screening for a special Q+A with actor H. Jon Benjamin, moderated by Eugene Mirman. Please note that Friday’s 8pm show is canceled.

Octogenarian Ruth (Chalfant) prepares breakfast in her sunny and cozy kitchen—a dish she seems to have made many times before, although small and puzzling errors now punctuate her comfortable routine. When her son (Benjamin) arrives to eat with her, she mistakes him for a suitor. Their ‘date’ takes them to an assisted living facility, which Ruth does not remember that she had previously selected for herself. Among her fellow memory care residents, Ruth feels lost and adrift, certain she has found herself somewhere she does not belong. As she slowly begins to accept the warmth and support of care workers Vanessa (Michelle) and Brian (McQueen), she finds new ways to ground herself in her body, even as her mind embarks on a journey all its own. 

Writer-director Sarah Friedland’s coming-of-old-age feature compassionately follows the winding path of Ruth’s shifting memories and desires while remaining rooted in her sage perspective. Crafted in collaboration with residents and staff of the care facility in which it was filmed, FAMILIAR TOUCH is an incredibly moving and finely detailed film about a strong-willed, capable woman facing a life change that is rarely shown on the big screen. Friedland’s sensitivity as a director shines through with subtle details highlighting the environment of privilege the film exists in while not losing sight of the universality of its story. – adapted from notes by Music Box Films 

“Friedland’s film, as sharp as it is soft, conveys both the terror of losing the life you recognize, and the intermittent, fragmented joy of finding it again.” – Guy Lodge, Variety

Closed captions are available for this feature. Captioning devices may be requested from our staff in the lobby.