I went to see Eleanor the Great expecting a poignant movie about intergenerational friendship. I left the theater bowled over by the masterful performance of the film’s 95-year-old star, June Squibb, showing what it is to be old, to be flawed and, at the same time, irrepressible. There’s a scene in the film, directed by Scarlett Johansson, when the camera moves in on Squibb’s character applying lipstick. It’s an unapologetic close-up of a woman’s well-aged face, and it may well be a cinematic first: commanding the audience to pay attention to her undaunted self-regard.

This is one form of the new longevity narrative — stories that make visible the complex lives of older adults, rather than flatten them into clichés of vulnerability or irrelevance. Eleanor the Great is a film about resilience and grief and the lies we tell about both. It explores the resuscitative power of friendship through the improbable connection between Squibb’s character, Eleanor, who has recently lost her best friend, and Nina, a 19-year-old college journalism student played by Erin Kellyman, who is grieving the loss of her mother. Nina becomes fascinated by Eleanor’s life story, which she has embellished by appropriating biographical details from her deceased best friend’s experiences during the Holocaust. 

As people live longer, we can expect to see, hear and read more of these stories — narratives by, for and about older adults focused not on the end of life, but on the novel experiences of active, very not-dead people in their nineties. In 1900, only four percent of people in the United States were over 65. Today, that number has more than quadrupled, transforming the cultural landscape. The charismatic Squibb embodies the mindset that Laura Holson covers in this month’s Deep Dive, exploring the connection between creative expression, better health and longevity. If you are feeling in need of a creative recharge in your own life, check out Laura’s recommendations for residencies, classes and other opportunities.

The new longevity narrative is about more than challenging ageist stereotypes. It’s also about what happens when up to five generations are alive at the same time, working side by side in many workplaces — an unprecedented human experience — and what we can learn from each other if we try.

It’s not always easy. As Richard Eisenberg reports in this issue, tapping into the strengths of different generations — while acknowledging respective quirks — is a balancing act that employers are still struggling to figure out. For those who do, the performance gains are significant. 

This is our fourth issue of SCL Magazine, and we want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to respond to our reader survey to let us know how we can best bring you stories, news and analysis to help you navigate longevity.

We appreciate your support! 

Karen Breslau
Editor

Read Issue 4