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Familiar Touch

Play trailer 1:56 Poster for Familiar Touch Jun 2025 1h 31m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 60 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), a retired cook, prepares breakfast in her sunny and cozy kitchen -- a dish she seems to have made many times before, although small and puzzling errors now punctuate her comfortable routine. When her son (H. Jon Benjamin) arrives to dine with her, she mistakes him for a suitor. Their "date" takes them to an assisted living facility, which Ruth does not remember that she had previously selected for herself. Among her fellow memory care residents, Ruth feels lost and adrift, certain she has found herself somewhere she does not belong. As she slowly begins to accept the warmth and support of care workers Vanessa (Carolyn Michelle) and Brian (Andy McQueen), she finds new ways to ground herself in her body, even as her mind embarks on a journey all its own. Writer-director Sarah Friedland's coming-of-old-age feature compassionately follows the winding path of octogenarian Ruth's shifting memories and desires while remaining rooted in her sage perspective.
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Familiar Touch

Familiar Touch

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Critics Consensus

Enlivened by Kathleen Chalfant's superb performance, Familiar Touch is a gentle drama that finds life-affirming grace in the face of mortality.

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Critics Reviews

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Ela Bittencourt Sight & Sound Dec 18
Sarah Friedland explores the human mind in all its frailness and glory with her exquisite drama about a woman with dementia adjusting to a new life at an assisted living facility. Go to Full Review
Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Jun 27
3.5/4
Director and screenwriter Sarah Friedland’s exquisite film is heartbreakingly authentic but warmhearted and even joyful at moments, as it respects the life of the regal and refined Ruth as well as those who know her or are just getting to know her... Go to Full Review
Robert Abele Los Angeles Times Jun 27
Chalfant’s Ruth is merely, momentously human: an older woman in need, but no less expressive of life’s fullness because of it. It’s a portrayal to remember, for as long as any of us can. Go to Full Review
John Stark Mac the Movie Guy 9h
66/100
A beautiful directorial debut about the fragility of memory, and how how we can remember the strangest things while forgetting the more imperative. A tough sell for audiences afraid this could be them, Friedland approaches with courtesy and honesty. Go to Full Review
Alex Southey That Shelf Nov 25
Sarah Friedland’s Familiar Touch is a powerful reminder of the complexities of family and society. It is an on-going exploration of what independence looks like in old age. Go to Full Review
David Griffiths Subculture Entertainment Nov 11
3.5/5
While this is a beautifully written film that shows the frustrations of living with memory loss it is a hard film to recommend because it is such a difficult watch. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Chris L Aug 21 Mindful, tender, and well-paced. This sensitive topic was handled with great dignity. See more Alec B Dec 7 Nice to see Kathleen Chalfant get a leading role like this (of course she's great here) but very little actually happens in this movie. See more Jung G Nov 13 Yes. She is great as an actress. But the story is completely wrong and incredible. A home resident cutting up fruit in the kitchen??? C'mon. Nowhere will you find aides/techs like that in a home. Fantasy See more Ben L @BennyBen Oct 24 Magnificent. Compassionate, insightful and important. A must see. (If you live long enough, you have this coming. Best be prepared.) See more themanicexec Sep 6 a beautiful and deeply resonant work of art. See more Vincent S. @Vin_E_At_The_Movies Aug 24 Kathleen Chalfant gives an outstanding performance in a moving, beautiful, bittersweet drama that everyone should see, young and old. See more Read all reviews
Familiar Touch

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), a retired cook, prepares breakfast in her sunny and cozy kitchen -- a dish she seems to have made many times before, although small and puzzling errors now punctuate her comfortable routine. When her son (H. Jon Benjamin) arrives to dine with her, she mistakes him for a suitor. Their "date" takes them to an assisted living facility, which Ruth does not remember that she had previously selected for herself. Among her fellow memory care residents, Ruth feels lost and adrift, certain she has found herself somewhere she does not belong. As she slowly begins to accept the warmth and support of care workers Vanessa (Carolyn Michelle) and Brian (Andy McQueen), she finds new ways to ground herself in her body, even as her mind embarks on a journey all its own. Writer-director Sarah Friedland's coming-of-old-age feature compassionately follows the winding path of octogenarian Ruth's shifting memories and desires while remaining rooted in her sage perspective.
Director
Sarah Friedland
Producer
Alexandra Byer, Sarah Friedland, Matthew Thurm
Screenwriter
Sarah Friedland
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Rathaus Films, Memento Films International
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 20, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 19, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA)
$159.7K
Runtime
1h 31m
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