Stolen Time

Most of us wish to grow old at home, continuing to live independently. But when illness or lack of support make it a necessity, either for ourselves or our loved ones, we hope to receive compassionate and trustworthy care. The realities of large corporate-owned care facilities paint a very different picture.

Helene Klodawsky’s sobering feature documentary finds a compelling and charismatic protagonist in elder rights lawyer Melissa Miller and her mission to take on the opaque for-profit nursing-home industry. It’s Miller’s most challenging case yet: a mass tort (class action) against some of the world’s most powerful long-term care corporations. They stand accused of neglecting their vulnerable charges while reaping huge profits. Booming elderly populations worldwide add urgency to holding these corporations to account.

Stolen Time is an inspiring call for justice. As well as sharing stories of desperate families who’ve turned to the courts as a last resort, Klodawsky exposes surprising testimonies and images from care workers, researchers and change-makers. We follow Miller and her team as they courageously challenge an industry noted for lack of transparency and accountability. Tensions multiply as the court challenge evolves, especially when it comes to frontline caregivers whose work is often undervalued but disproportionately blamed for what goes wrong. Miller, her clients and other advocates are a rare source of hope in the often heartless corporate care business. With cinematic verve, Stolen Time provides an inside look at a legal battle and an emerging elder justice movement.

Mar 21: Doc Night screening will be followed by a panel discussion on the state of seniors’ care.

Speakers:
Julia Henderson in an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia, holds a PhD in Theatre, and is Chair of the North American Network in Aging Studies.

Bruce Devereux is a Recreation Therapist with 32 years of experience in the not-for-profit aging care sector. Creativity, collaboration, and community are themes that guide his practice and program delivery.

Sara Pon is a staff lawyer and researcher at Seniors First BC, and co-chair of the BC Adult Abuse and Neglect Prevention Collaborative.

Moderator: Alixandra Buck
Alix spent nearly a decade in communications and advocacy for humanitarian organizations before becoming a documentary filmmaker. She has worked as director, writer, and editor for several productions in BC, notably as the editor for the Adhel Productions series, Katiba Banat: Sisters in Arms in 2023. Currently, Alix is in production for her documentary Lobster Queens on Canada’s only all-woman lobster fishing boat.

Doc Night Presented by