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CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF AGING

SEMINAR CINEMA SERIES

presents

A Song for Martin

A Film Focusing on a Couple’s Relationship Beset by the

Vicissitudes of Alzheimer’s Disease

followed with a discussion moderated by

Lenore Pomerance, LICSW, CGP & Rose Marie Oster, PhD

SUNDAY, march 14, 2010 

12:15 PM to 4:00 PM 

 

Feature Presentation: “A Song for Martin,” (2001), Danish-Swedish co-production, in Swedish with English subtitles.

 

“A Song for Martin,” written and directed by Danish director Bille August (“Pelle the Conquerer”) is a fictionalized story of a memoir by Swedish author Ulla Isaksson chronicling the last years of her marriage to literary critic Erik Linder as they struggled through the vicissitudes of his Alzheimer’s disease. 

 

In the film, Martin, a visiting conductor and revered composer, and Barbara, the symphony’s first violinist, fall in love.  They leave behind marriages and families of grown children for new erotic love and their shared passion for music.  They move to a country house on the coast to devote themselves to each other and his music.  But the idyll begins to shatter as Martin’s small memory lapses give way to a definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.  We watch the couple’s power dynamic shift as Martin loses his mastery over his music and daily functions and Barbara, with denial, reluctance, and then determination devotes herself to his total care.  We witness the poignancy of first his withdrawal from her and from life, its traumatic impact on her, and finally her eventual ability to let him go and fashion a life on her own.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND 

Workshop is intended for psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, licensed professional counselors, physicians, medical students and graduate students who have an interest in aging, intergenerational and non-traditional families issues.

OBJECTIVES

  1. Describe the discovery and progress of Alzheimer's disease and its impact on patient and family members.
  2. Appreciate Swedish cultural norms that come into play around dealing with Alzheimer's disease.
  1. Apply attachment and bereavement theories to the Alzheimer's affected couple and family members.
 

Discussion Leaders

Rose Marie Oster, PhD is a professor of Scandinavian Studies in the School of Languages,  Literatures and Cultures at the University of Maryland with a research emphasis in modern Swedish women’s literature. She has been a long time member of the Board of Directors of the Washington School of Psychiatry and is currently its Vice Chair.  She also chairs the School’s Education Committee. A veteran member of  WSP’s Study Group for Issues in Aging she is also a member of  its Center for the Study of Aging.

Lenore M Pomerance, MSW, CGP has a private psychotherapy practice in Washington D.C. with a specialty in menopause, mid-life and sexuality issues. She has presented workshops on sexuality and aging, sexual desire, working with the dying, and psychotherapy and religion for the American Academy of Psychotherapists. Her essay, “Aging Baby Boomers: Denying Death and Menopause” was published in the Academy’s journal Voices in 2003.  She is a member of the Washington School of Psychiatry’s Center for the Study of Aging.

Schedule

Light Refreshments: 12:15 to 1:00
Film/Discussion: 1:00 to 4:00

IMPORTANT:  There will be someone at the front door of the building from 12 noon – 1:00 PM to give you directions to the conference room where the event will take place.  Please plan to arrive between these times since the door to the building will only be open from        12 noon – 1:00 PM.  

Location

The Washington School of Psychiatry
5028 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC, 20016
Directions

Fee

$10.00, there is an additional $25 fee for processing continuing education credits.

CE/CME 2.5

CONTINUING EDUCATION

The Washington School of Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to support continuing education for psychologists. The Washington School of Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

The School is approved by the Social Work Board of the State of Maryland as a provider of continuing education for social workers.

The School is approved by the Medical Society of Maryland (MEDCHI) for continuing education for psychiatrists.

The School has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider Number 6388  

Registration

Reservations suggested: Call 202-237-2700

Movie seating is limited so reserve your space early.

 

Disclosure of Commercial Support and the Unlabeled use of a commercial product.  No member of the planning committee and no member of the faculty for this event have a financial interest or other relationship with any commercial product(s) discussed in this educational presentation.