Cinema Club with Yelena Pogrebizhskaya

A film showing and discussion was held in the cinema-theatre of the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Centre on the 27th March, of Yuliya Kiselyova’s film “Big Hugs.”  The film is dedicated to the volunteers from the “Happiness in Old Age” foundation, who give up their time to go and visit senior citizens in homes for the elderly.  At first glance, such charity is a simple matter: gather things, spend a little time, donate some money.  But as it turns out, it is far from being so simple when you are 17 years old and not really prepared to witness lonely old age, poverty and illness.  But when you realise that they are now waiting for you there, in the old people’s home, it gets even harder.  The theme of this film prompted a lively response from the audience, with many deep thoughts and outbursts of desire to help, all the more so, given that the majority of the viewers were themselves teenagers just like those on the screen.  Present at the discussion was Yelizaveta Oleskina – founder of “Happiness in Old Age” and heroine of the film.  She answered questions from the audience and told them about ways to help people in homes for the elderly, and how it is that they end up there.  “The main problem for grannies in these homes is loneliness” – said Liza.  “Whenever you visit or write a letter, they have something to look forward to.  All of us experience loneliness at some point in our lives.  Paying visits to them lets us ourselves feel happier, knowing that somebody is thinking about us.”