Directed by Jeremy Max and written by Ryan Delouya, while reading a book of world records with his great-grandchildren, William Bennett discovers that the world’s oldest man is just days older than he is. Seeing this as a way to cement his legacy, William attempts to outlive the oldest man. Starring: Gerry Bamman, Christina Rouner, Ezra Barnes, David Pendleton, Juniper Renee Verdon and Hanok Larson.
There’s a great deal of emotions that go along with aging, mortality, pride and family, and Jeremy Max does a great job of reflecting that in The Second Oldest Man Alive. You’re greeted with an atmosphere that blends the sadness of the situation with the sweetness of the love their family has for one another. Something that’s then nicely complemented by the cinematography from Kyle Deitz, it lives within that everyday realm but manages to elevate things slightly. Using the darker tones of its palette to add depth and match the emotional air.
The story progresses really well, the writing is very strong work from Ryan Delouya. It explores the minefield of aging, resisting the pitying looks while taking it too far as to make unhealthy choices to avoid them. Something that’s matched strongly by Gerry Bamman’s performance, he captures William’s illness and physical weakness, without ever actually making him feel weak or meek. He’s got an especially determined personality, as becomes very clear as The Second Oldest Man Alive progresses.
One of the key strengths to Deloya’s writing is that he takes this story in different directions. He’s able to move beyond that initial story, while holding onto all of the necessary sincerity and depth. Taking it into new territory that’s unexpected and entertaining to watch. He makes a lot of choices that respect the topic, while never feeling that he has to remain utterly serious and melancholy, which is great to see.
The Second Oldest Man Alive is an unusual exploration of aging and illness, delving into facing your mortality in an original and captivating manner. Being able to take a few unexpected turns is definitely a huge advantage, it evolves the short into something completely different, without undermining the foundation they’ve built, which is impressive. It’s shot well, it moves with confidence and sincerity, and while its actors may not be that convincing as centenarians, the performances are great, and of course there was no real expectation for the filmmakers to find actors aged over one hundred, that’s a tall order to say the least.
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