Preserving Dignity: Two Swiss Films on Living with Dementia

Two new Swiss documentary films examine the realities of living with Alzheimer’s disease by following individuals who are losing their memories while insisting on their personal dignity. nzz.ch reported that the films highlight how diagnosed individuals reject pity and object to being treated like children, offering a stark look at the progression of the condition.

Birgitta Martensson navigates Lausanne daily life

In the documentary When memory fades, directors Marianne Pletscher and Martina Rieder follow 76-year-old Birgitta Martensson over three years in Lausanne. Martensson previously served as director of Alzheimer Switzerland for fifteen years, a role she took on after watching both her mother and older sister experience the disease. Diagnosed just before her retirement, Martensson displays a slow-progressing form of Alzheimer’s that allows her to speak openly about her experiences.

There is also a beautiful life with dementia.

Birgitta Martensson

The film captures everyday challenges, such as searching through kitchen drawers for missing mustard or struggling to use a ticket machine. Despite these moments, Martensson maintains her independence through walks in the forest and tending to her balcony flowers, while voicing her determination to avoid nursing homes and consider assisted dying through Exit.

Kaspar Kasics stages improvised theater in Zurich

A second Swiss documentary, The infinite now directed by Kaspar Kasics, takes a different approach by bringing together individuals with Alzheimer’s diagnoses in Zurich to perform improvisation theater. Operating on a specially prepared stage, six participants express their anger, fear, and moments of joy by drawing from their actual lives while also inventing scenarios to interpret their illness.

The cast includes Christiane Meier, a former fashion industry worker; Martin Bigler, a professional backgammon and Jass player; and former German teacher Christian Sonderegger, who describes his dementia as a black hole. They are joined by Tatjana Bollhalder, who received a young-onset dementia diagnosis in 2024 and refers to the condition as For the sake of, a spirit sitting on her shoulders.

I did it my way, the participants sing together in the film, demonstrating how the creative process of performance allows them to channel their experiences on their own terms.