I Lost My Mom

Overview

I Lost My Mom is a 2022 Canadian documentary directed and produced by Denys Desjardins. In 75 minutes, it follows Desjardins and his sister Maryse as they work to move their mother, Madeleine Ducharme, into a CHSLD while her Alzheimer’s disease advances. The film then traces their efforts to remain involved in her care after she contracts COVID-19, amid strict safety measures in the pandemic’s early days.

The story continues a family journey introduced in The Castle, Desjardins’s 2020 film about Madeleine facing a move from her longtime home in a seniors’ retirement complex to a more managed care setting. This film shifts the focus to the practical and personal challenges that follow that transition, as illness and restrictions shape how her children can support her.

Made by Centaure Films and presented in French, the documentary brings together family caregiving, Alzheimer’s disease and the effects of COVID-19 precautions on a family’s connection with an older parent. Its focus remains close to Desjardins, Maryse and Madeleine, rather than treating these circumstances as an abstract issue.

Key features

A family’s changing role in care

The film follows two stages of the siblings’ experience: seeking a CHSLD placement for their mother and trying to stay present in her care afterward. Madeleine’s advancing Alzheimer’s and subsequent COVID-19 infection form the circumstances around which that effort unfolds.

A continuation of an earlier film

As a sequel to The Castle, I Lost My Mom carries forward the account of Madeleine’s move from her longtime residence toward more managed care. The earlier film provides context for this next chapter, while the later one addresses the complications of care during the pandemic.

At a glance

• Director and producer: Denys Desjardins
• Country: Canada
• Language: French
• Release year: 2022
• Runtime: 75 minutes
• Production company: Centaure Films

Who it's for

This documentary is suited to viewers interested in family caregiving, Alzheimer’s disease, elder care and the effects of pandemic safety restrictions on personal relationships. Teachers and students considering films about care transitions or family experience during COVID-19 may also find its specific focus relevant. Viewers who have not seen The Castle can follow the stated circumstances here, while the earlier film offers a fuller account of Madeleine’s move from her longtime home.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Follows a clear family story across the transition into managed care and the COVID-19 period.
• Connects Alzheimer’s-related care needs with the challenge of staying involved under strict safety restrictions.
• Its relationship to The Castle gives the story continuity across two films.

Considerations

• The film is a sequel, so viewers seeking the earlier stage of Madeleine’s care transition may want to begin with The Castle.
• It is French-language, which may not suit viewers looking specifically for English-language documentaries.

Alternatives

For the preceding chapter in Madeleine’s story, start with The Castle. To explore more of the director’s work, see Documentaries by Denys Desjardins. Other films in the directory include From NFB to Box-Office, Back to the New World, The Great Resistance, Rebels with a Camera, Being Human, My Eye for a Camera and Almanach 1999-2000. Readers browsing recent releases can also visit New documentaries.

Verdict

I Lost My Mom continues Denys Desjardins’s account of his mother’s transition into managed care, following the family through the additional strain of Alzheimer’s, COVID-19 and restrictions on involvement in her care. Its 75-minute French-language format keeps the focus on the experiences of Madeleine and her children. It is a particularly natural choice for viewers interested in family caregiving or in seeing the next part of the story begun in The Castle.