Reviews

Greetings and salutations

By CHRISTOPHER GRAY | June 10, 2009

Usually filmed in static, beautiful close-ups, interviews with the greeters reveal that they share the same concerns about patriotism and mortality that the soldiers themselves do, questioning with wrenching directness whether or not they can die knowing they've lived noble lives, and whether anyone will honor them. These are heavy moments, but Gaudet is careful to pay attention to both the challenges and redeeming joys of their late lives (there are wonderful instances of distinctly Northeastern libertarian humor throughout the film).

At its core, The Way We Get By is a film intended to raise awareness of how we care for our elderly, but Gaudet allows this message to gradually seep into the film. As he emphasizes storytelling and character development, these seniors' sojourns to the airport — through aches, falls, and cancer — begin to feel like stirring acts of heroism. This is a film that presents its agenda as humbly, and proudly, as its subjects.

Christopher Gray can be reached at cgray@phx.com.

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