"But the times they are a-changing, because leading characters of pensionable age are all over the place nowadays, whether solving crimes in The Thursday Murder Club; turning the tables on swindlers in Thelma or The G; wrestling with unreliable memories in The Father or Familiar Touch; or preying on other inmates or staff in The Home or The Rule of Jenny Pen."
"Recent examples tend to be one of three kinds: feisty, frail or fiendish. Feisties hatch plans, solve murders and fight back against injustice, sometimes with the help of younger relatives who teach them how to use the internet. Frails are on a downward slide into dementia but their condition is treated with sympathy and respect, as is the plight of their relatives and carers. Meanwhile the Fiendish are egomaniacal miscreants who exploit, terrorise or kill."
In 2009, a survey of over 300 films found only three featuring senior citizens in significant roles. Leading characters of pensionable age now appear across contemporary cinema and television in diverse narratives, from crime-solving to revenge and struggles with memory. Older characters have moved from background parts to starring or pivotal roles that reflect decades of accrued personality and experience. Portrayals commonly fit three types—feisty, frail or fiendish—each serving different story functions and emotional registers. Representation of older generations is increasingly prominent and varied rather than uniformly marginalised.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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