In 2004, Nick Cassavetes found success with the release of the film Never forget. In this feature film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, we discover the love story of Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton. While the elderly woman is suffering from Alzheimer’s diseaseher husband keeps reading their story to her so that she remembers him.
Twenty years after the release of Never forgetNick Cassavetes returned to the success of his film to Entertainment
Weekly. The opportunity for the director to discuss
passing time. “Ryan and Rachel have had great careers (…) Mom has Alzheimer’s, James Garner is dead, Sam Shepard is dead” he first confided.
Gena Rowlands has Alzheimer’s disease
In Never forget, Nick Cassavetes’ mother, Gena Rowlands played the role of elderly Allie Hamilton. Two decades later, the 94-year-old actress suffers from the same illness as his character. “I asked my mom to play elderly Allie, and we spent a lot of time talking about Alzheimer’s and trying to be authentic. And now, for five years, she has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease” explained his son.
Visibly upset by the situationthe brother of Alexandra and Zoe Cassavetes then continued: “She is in complete dementia. And it’s so crazy, we lived it, she played it, and now it’s our turn”.
The actress’ mother suffered from the same illness
Before Gena Rowlands, his own mother, Lady
Rowlands, had also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. A terrible ordeal for her daughter, who then agreed to film in
Never forget. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey’s magazine in 2004, John Cassavetes’ widow testified: “I went through this with my mother, and if Nick hadn’t directed the film, I don’t think I would have agreed to do it, it’s just too hard. It was a difficult, but wonderful film”.
For nearly seven decades, Gena Rowlands has left her mark on Hollywood cinema. She formed a legendary couple with John Cassavetes and directed ten films with him. Among them, A woman under the influence (1974) or
Gloria (1980). The actress’ last film performance dates back to 2014 in the comedy Six dance lessons in six
weeks. Two years later, his career was rewarded with an honorary Oscar.
