When Richard Snyder is diagnosed with dementia at age 72, his daughter — filmmaker Emma Francis-Snyder — begins filming their time together. Emma soon discovers that figuring out how to care for her father in the United States is a minefield. She is constantly trying to sort out one logistical nightmare after another. Without any knowledge or understanding of the eldercare system and contrary to her expectations, the majority of her time is spent on excruciating phone calls, desperately trying to secure long-term care without going bankrupt. Emma is clearly in over her head, and the stakes couldn’t be higher: Richard’s actual life and livelihood are always in question.

 

For inspiration and relief from her emotional nightmare, Emma turns to Richard’s unfinished novel, “The Cynical Optimist”. The book is a dark comedy about William — Richard’s alter ego — who dies, hoping to disappear forever. Instead, William discovers that heaven is an office. William meets God and agrees to help him streamline the bureaucratic morass of the afterlife in exchange for eternal nothingness. We are introduced to a fictional world which gives Richard a voice and character when his own voice is fading and his character is changing in real life. This narrative piece also offers comedic reprieve from the incredibly difficult reality Emma and Richard are navigating.

 

Back in the real world, Emma finds herself battling the healthcare system in order to implement full-time care and home safety renovations while trying to maintain her day job and familial demands on her time. She must learn to advocate for herself and her own mental health while caretaking to maintain her own sanity.

 

The film captures the realities of end-of-life care in America by blending documentary and narrative, curating a touching and creative approach to a difficult topic.