Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory

Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory is an extraordinary 2014 documentary film that explores the immense power of music and its ability to awaken deeply buried memories within individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The film stars Dan Cohen, a social worker turned non-profit founder; Louise Dueno, a caregiver, and Nell Hardie, an expert on dementia.

Cohen, the film’s primary focus, is a man with a mission. As the founder of the non-profit organization Music & Memory, he fights a desperate and often uphill battle against a deeply ingrained, pharmaceutically-dominated healthcare system, endeavoring to prove scientifically how the power of music can combat memory loss and restore a sense of self. Dueno and Hardie authenticate the transformation that music can bring about, providing heartfelt accounts of their experiences with dementia patients.

Directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett, who initially set off to document Cohen's work over a day but ended up following him for three years, Alive Inside is an inspiringly hopeful look at a fresh, alternative approach to caring for our elderly population, particularly those suffering from memory loss.

The film not only surprises the viewer with miraculous moments where music invigorates patients with Alzheimer's but also stimulates discussions on topics such as the neglect of the elderly, the overreliance on pharmaceutical medications, the nature of identity and what it means to be alive.

Cohen utilizes the simple yet powerful technology of an iPod to deliver personalized music to those living in dreary nursing homes. We get to see the power and influence of music demonstrated with a series of deeply touching moments. The transformative effect, the moment when a patient, previously locked within themselves, suddenly lights up with recognition and begins to interact with the external world again, is depicted with both tender sensitivity and triumphant vigor.

Effectively utilizing interviews with renowned neurologist Oliver Sacks and musician Bobby McFerrin, ‘Alive Inside’ supplements its human stories with expert insight into how our brains function and why music can activate parts of the brain that nothing else reaches. These insights are backed by science and illustrated through MRI scans which establish the involvement of multiple regions of the brain when processing music, thereby making it an ideal stimulant for engaging otherwise unresponsive parts of the mind.

Yet, despite the light it sheds on revolutionary treatment, the movie never shies away from confronting the uncomfortable truth about the American healthcare system's systemic neglect of the elderly. Rossato-Bennett effectively contrasts the joy and life that these patients rediscover with the struggle of clinicians and caregivers against an increasingly disconnected and medication-dependent approach to care.

At the same time, 'Alive Inside' is an exploration of music's capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. It portrays the shared human experiences across generations, encapsulated in the raw power of music and memory.

Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory is a testament to the virtues of empathy, patience, and human connection over heavily medicalized care. It is a moving exploration of the indissoluble bond between music and memory, an ode to the sheer resilience of the human spirit amid darker times, and an inspiring advocacy for introducing innovative therapeutic approaches to dementia care.

Rossato-Bennett has successfully captured a revolution-in-the-making in terms of patient care and invites viewers to participate in the awakening. The film is bound to resonate with anyone who cherishes the magic of music or has ever cared for an elder. It serves as a passionate call to arms for those looking to fight against the sometimes stagnant, overly pharmaceutical approach to patient care, replacing it with a return to the power of the human soul, awoken by the power of memory and music. Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory is truly an emotionally captivating rollercoaster, touching hearts and inspiring change.