Ed and Alfie is ready for the festival circuit!
CAST
Kyra Harper as Alfie
David Ferry as Ed & the voice of Carl
Jayne Eastwood as Phyllis
Roy Lewis as Neil
Izaak Smith as Julian
Carolyn Fe as Dr. Bright
Allison Feliciano as Young Alfie
Jonathon LeRose as Young Ed
Lauren Arthur as Jessica
Devan Semeniuk as Dylan
Deborah Lobban as Woman in Car
Thank you to our fabulous cast and crew and our wonderful supporters.
About The Film
On the morning of his 70th birthday, a loving wife caring for a husband with Alzheimer’s arrives at the long term care home to discover that he has consumed neither food nor fluids since she was there 24 hours ago. The doctor recommends immediate intravenous hydration followed by a drug to stimulate his appetite, allowing him to celebrate more and more birthdays. Or she can deny treatment and let the long goodbye come to an end. She has three hours to decide.
Director’s Note
What drew me to Lynda’s script is the way she says the quiet part out loud. Without judgement or agenda, just lots of love. Alzheimer’s affects millions of families including my own and this story asks difficult questions often not raised.
Our main character, Alfreida Biggs, has lost the love of her life to this ruthless illness. And, because of her love for Ed, she too has become a prisoner.
It is the caregivers not the illness that I want to highlight in this film. The reality of their struggles and the beauty of their strength in an impossible situation.
There are no right or wrong answers when dealing with a disease that makes no sense. All we can hope to find, is the strength to carry on.
Writer/Producer’s Note
My vision for this project?
Short film, big impact. A story that lingers in your heart and mind long after the credits have rolled. With our cast and crew, and Shelly at the helm, I know we can get there.
The inspiration
Having twice watched the long goodbye of Alzheimer’s play out in my own family, I wanted to write a screenplay that not only reflects the daily struggles of caregivers, but also the heartbreaking choices families the world over face as this illness trudges on and on, taking their loved one down a long, dark path.
At its heart, ED and ALFIE is a love story. One that wrestles with the timeless question of what is love? What does it look like? What does it bring to you, but more importantly, what does love ask of you.
ED and ALFIE does not shy away from the decisions Alfie must make in the name of love. It is my hope that any controversy around those decisions will lead to discussions about life, love and what it means to care for someone with Alzheimer’s.