Cyber-Seniors

Greetings again from the darkness. As the world has become more connected, the greatest generation is being left behind in a cloud of digital dust. As pointed out by one of the teenage mentors, the generation gap is wider than ever. The good old days of three generations living together under one roof are gone, and quite often there is a great geographic distance between family members. Two teenage girls set out to close the gap by teaching senior citizens how to connect via the World Wide Web. Their project, Cyber-Seniors, is captured on film by director Saffron Cassady.

Taking place in a couple of Toronto Assisted Living Centers, the Cyber-Seniors project has millennials making the rounds to tutor the residents on how to use a computer, and specifically, how to connect with distant family members. The film focuses on five individuals ranging in age from 77 to 93. While the seniors are absorbing the power of technology, the teenage mentors slowly come to realize the spirit of life and the interesting backstories of their much older pupils. Patience and a sense of humor are necessary for all parties involved, creating a very interesting, entertaining and meaningful story for the viewer.

Playing significant roles in the process are such items as Facebook, email, digital photos, chatting, online banking and Skype. There is a brief, but humorous segment on a dating site, but the real fun begins when 88 year old Shura creates a "cooking" video for YouTube. My guess is you will never again think of corn on the cob or grilled cheese the same. This leads to a YouTube contest and this portion could have made a film unto itself, as each senior creates a video in line with their own personality – exercise, friendship, dating, and yes, even dental work. It's fascinating to watch these folks flash some of their knowledge and personality.

The project itself is ambitious and worthwhile, but the real payoff comes as these fine people re-connect with their kids and grandkids and friends. While the humor and touching moments make for wonderful viewing, the film is a not so subtle reminder that everyone has something to offer, and we can all benefit from more personal interactions with those who mean so much to us. For other wonderful documentaries centered on senior citizens, see Young at Heart (2007) and Ping Pong (2012).

Went to see this with my senior mum and we both had a great time; fantastically sweet, heartfelt, hilarious and inspiring. And totally spot on that technology has come on so fast and strong that it leaves anyone to whom a cordless phone was a big deal in its wake. In my mid-40s I can barely just keep up with what's going on out there; I can't imagine how it's been for my mum and her generation! (well, I do know since I was the one who walked her through Computers 101, and it was nearly as painful for me to teach her as it was for her to learn!:)) Can't recommend it enough; everyone should see it - if not for a laugh, then to see the reality of what - or who - lies on the other side of the techy explosion. Totally great.

Watching the cyber-senior's take on this new adventure was as impressive as it was amusing. Each mentor had their own creative way of teaching and working with their seniors, and each senior responded in like. Some interactions were so humorous I forgot this was a documentary! There were also a couple good lessons that the seniors shared through their past experiences, and a sudden turn of events for the creators of the film which was a good reminder of why we're using technology in the first place, to bring us closer in this ever expanding fragile world. I highly recommend this film for a family movie night, a family reunion, or even a movie night for yourself, you will not be disappointed!

This film is truly much more than just a 'film' - it defines a turning point in today's tech-charged world. This is the largest generation gap we've seen since the age of Rock n' Roll, and this film and campaign aim to bridge this digital divide while connecting two groups of people . It's a beautiful documentary with many heartfelt moments and lots of laughs. But also an educational and inspiring piece with a lot of take- away learnings. This doc is a true family film. Whether you're a tech- savvy young person, a parent of teens and a child of a senior, or a curious senior yourself - this movie has something for everyone to relate to!

The film makes you not only reflect on the difficulties seniors have with technology but also on the amount of effort required in ageing with grace and remaining relevant as a senior in today's fast paced society. It brigs attention to the need to integrate this very important demographic back into our everyday lives and treat the elderly with the same respect and dignity that our ancestors have done over the ages. The picture does a great job demonstrating the ways technology can help with achieving such a task. It reminds me of multiple generations living under the same roof - which is proved to have tremendous health and social benefits in society - only in this case, as stated in the film, by living in a "virtual house".