Andrew Jenks, Room 335 (2006) User Reviews

You Must See This Incredible Film!!!

[mambo771975 · 10/10 · 16 February 2006]

I had the good fortune to see this documentary at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. I cannot recall seeing a more human film. Quite simply it is beautiful and inspiring.

19 year-old Andrew Jenks decided to spend 6 weeks living in a assisted living facility in Florida. There, he and his two friends (and fellow filmmakers, Jonah Q. Pettigrew & Will Godel)recorded their experiences there, building relationships with people 4 and 5 times their ages. Incredible people, all with great strengths and flaws hidden within aging and failing bodies. You will become so enamored of the residents, that you'll feel that you know them.

The magic of this film is that there are no walls between the filmmakers and their subjects and neither is there any barrier between the audience and the film itself.

These young men made this film with respect, humor and dignity and it is so inspiring to see these courageous guys knock down the walls between generations and bring out the humanity of these all but forgotten seniors. It brought to mind the John Prine song, "Hello in There". This movie succeeds in breaking barriers between generations and you'll never look at old age in the same way again.

Do yourself a favor and see this very human, and very inspiring film!!!

Won Best Picture & Best Documentary of the 2006 Phoenix Film Festival

[rcmcnabb · 10/10 · 31 March 2006]

I asked the Phoenix Film Festival Guest Relations Director to recommend a movie which she heard was very good. She said "Andrew Jenks, Room 335" was getting great reviews from the Phoenix Film Festival attendees. I scheduled to see the film and I must say the movie was outstanding. Andrew Jenks, director, actor and nice guy was in attendance at the festival. By the way, the attendees voted Andrew's film "Andrew Jenks, Room 335" the winner of "Best Picture" and "Best Documentary" of the 2006 Phoenix Film Festival. The movie explains the what,why,how,when,who and where of this real life drama, with a cast of caring and sharing characters(seniors who "live" at Harbor Place, Flordia) who give us hope that there is an important role for older senior citizens who can't be counted out just because they are in an assisted living facility. Each real and actual person in this film could not have been casted from central casting more perfectly than the real residents of Harbor Place. These people become important to the viewing public as they are important to each other and to Andrew Jenks and crew. Andrew has brought an important film to the public and has been rewarded with "Best Picture" and "Best Documentray" of the outstanding Phoenix Film Festival of 2006. This story deserved to be the a winner here in Phoenix Arizona where like Flordia we have many of the senior citizen types who Andrew has filmed. This film should be available to every institution where older American citizens provide a great service to each other and the public. Older, younger-oh heck lets say everyone-people everywhere in the USA should view this film. We see older can be better and there is a place for senior people to contribute their most important time to us all even under difficult circumstances. A joyful, tragic, funny, sad, happy epic of assisted living in a caring facility is the subject. We will expect more films from Andrew Jenks and his crew who not only filmed but participated in the drama. This documentary/drama with filmmaker participation is wonderful. Perhaps a return to Harbor Place will be in the cards. Original and wonderful, a real treat and a piece of art which reaches our heart. A great idea of unplanned events which reflects "What's going on now in assisted care" is now a full length movie. You are pulled into the lives of these people in a unique way and you are amazed and hooked after a while. Youth is not always wasted on the young and-"Andrew Jenks Room 335"-proves it!

Fantastic film

[rimbaud402003 · 10/10 · 6 April 2006]

I saw this film at the Phx Film Festival. Incredibly moving film that never went for the easy hit on emotions. The subject forces all of us to look at some rather difficult issues.

I worked at Nursing Homes for about 5 years in the 90's. This film brought a lot of that back. I was cool until the part of the film where one of the residents was literally dying.

The friend I went with left the theater. We had both been crying off and on during the film, trying to do so in the most manly way possible. He lost his mother (she wasn't even 50 years old) only six months prior to this.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE what he was thinking about.

Looking for my buddy, I staggered out of the theater and into the bright sunlight. I was very emotional and felt like I had undergone some kind of very heavy life experience (which I suppose I had). I still feel changed.

Lately, I've been paying more attention to the older people I run into. Since I recently lost my job, I've been trying to think of a way to get involved with older folks again while still being able to support myself.

I left right after my friend because I had experienced the situation in the film in Nursing Home rooms when there was NO family there, just those of us on the Staff.

During those 2 or 3 times, I always wondered "What did this person ever do to deserve to die alone like this? Shouldn't everyone die with at least ONE PERSON who loved them and honored them?"

I never got an answer.

Recently, I watched a PBS show about nursing homes. It was good but it had NOWHERE NEAR the heart of this film 'Andrew Jenks". I think it should be required viewing for 1)High School classes 2) All employees of nursing homes/assisted living communities INCLUDING the Administration!

These 19 year old kids have demonstrated so much love and honor and integrity in this film. I hope that they are rewarded along with the awesome residents who just want to avoid being a burden on their kids or who just want to ride out their remaining days watching Jeopardy and hanging out!

A Must-See Film for all ages

[pischina-1 · 10/10 · 5 March 2006]

I just got back from the Cinequest Film Festival where I was lucky enough to see this film and meet Andrew Jenks. This is a movie that needs to be seen by the masses. It will touch your heart and change your life - there is no way to see this film without it affecting you in some way. The resident stars of this film - Tammy, Bill, Dotty and Libby - are amazing people who try to get through this new stage in their life as best they can... You would never guess that Tammy is 96 years old, and you will wish you lived nearer this Assisted Living Center so you could visit Bill. It will inspire you to volunteer at a place such as this - there is a center within walking distance of my house and tomorrow I am calling for volunteer opportunities. It doesn't matter what age you are, even teenagers will be moved and affected by this film. If you get any opportunity to see this wonderful documentary, you need to find a way to see it.