What makes a movie an excellent gerontological film? Well—watch 27 Nights and you’ll find out.

27 Nights (27 Noches in Spanish) is a 2025 Argentine film directed by Daniel Hendler. Co-written by Hendler, Martín Mauregui, and Agustina Liendo, based on Mariano Llinás’ first adaptation of the 2021 biographical fiction novel Veintisiete Noches by Argentine author Natalia Zito, the film offers a fascinating exploration of ageing, freedom, and control.

The plot is deceptively simple, revealed within the first five minutes: Martha Hoffman, (played by Marilú Marini), an eccentric and wealthy 83-year-old art patron—lively, independent, and unconventional—starts to worry her daughters. Convinced that their mother is showing signs of dementia and fearing for her safety (and her fortune), they have her committed to a psychiatric clinic against her will.The rest of the film—without giving too much away—follows Martha’s struggle to reclaim her freedom.

Yet the movie has another central figure: Leandro Casares, (Played by Daniel Hendler) the court-appointed psychiatric expert assigned to assess whether Martha truly suffers from cognitive decline or whether she is simply being silenced. His inquiry moves between clinical settings, Martha’s vibrant past and social circle, and the daughters’ fears and motives.

Anyone familiar with ageing, elder law, or gerontology will recognize this scenario: families seizing control over an older parent’s life once that parent stops “behaving” as expected, often invoking (or misusing) legal tools such as guardianship proceedings or involuntary commitment. But crafting an engaging, original, and full-length drama around such issues is no easy task.

The beauty and success of 27 Nights rest on two pillars. First, the film’s richly drawn characters—Martha, with her artistic, sensual, and rebellious spirit, and Leandro, the conflicted expert whose empathy deepens as he investigates her case. Second, the film’s portrayal of the complex relationships between Martha, her daughters, and the professionals at the psychiatric institution. Unlike many other films in the genre, 27 Nights avoids simplistic “good” versus “bad” dichotomies. Everyone involved in Martha’s forced (and arguably unlawful) confinement is depicted with nuance and humanity.

To conclude: 27 Nights is not only an excellent gerontological film but also an important one. It raises the fundamental questions of ageing: What is old age? What does society expect—or permit—of older adults? And what role should the law play in defining their autonomy?

Go see it. Make your students watch it. Then—talk about it.

2025

Argentina

Director: Daniel Hendler

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9PEcUpiW6A