Little Empty Boxes

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2:44

Little Empty Boxes

Released Apr 19, 2024

1h 40m

Documentary

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4 Reviews

97%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

Once a strong and independent woman, Kathy Lugavere finds herself struggling with her memory. In a quest to find his mother the best care, 32-year-old son Max moves home to New York City and begins to consult with top health experts to investigate the origins of Dementia, a disease which now affects a staggering 55 million people globally. The deeply personal film chronicles Kathy's experience with Dementia as Max explores methods outside of prescription medication to slow her illness down. LITTLE EMPTY BOXES presents a raw perspective of Kathy's journey, the hardships of being a caretaker, and a son willing to do anything to save his mother.

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Christian Zilko

IndieWire

The film’s determination to shed light on systemic causes of dementia is admirable, but the real takeaway of Little Empty Boxes is that caring for a parent in a state of serious decline is an impossible task.

Rated: B-

Apr 19, 2024

Full Review

Andy Klein

FilmWeek (LAist)

I thought this was quite good... It doesn't feel exploitative, which was my first worry going into it.

May 10, 2024

Full Review

Christopher Campbell

Nonfics (Substack)

Little Empty Boxes gets its message across in a less direct manner than a lot of films, and that’s a good thing.

Apr 17, 2024

Full Review

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

A poignant and illuminating documentary. Little Empty Boxers is a potent reminder that there's always hope for some light at the end of a dark tunnel.

Apr 16, 2024

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maureen

Very powerful. A little dis-jointed in some places.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

Full Review

Perla Grigg

Max Lugavere's 'Little Empty Boxes' hits you right in the feels. It's a heartfelt documentary about his luchadora (fighter) of a mami, Kathy, as she battles a mysterious kind of dementia. Mami Kathy's world starts to slip through her fingers, and Max dives in cabeza primero (head first) to understand this illness. He talks to doctors, busca (seeks) answers beyond pills, and wonders if what they eat might be playing a part. The film is a cruda y desgarradora (raw and heartbreaking) look at Mami Kathy's journey, the struggles of being a cuidador (caregiver), and the fierce love of a son who just wants to help his mami hold onto what she has left.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/03/24

Full Review

Jerod S

Documentary of a son's mom in mental decline is hard to watch, but also informative and heartfelt. Maybe it tries to tackle too much - but it's engaging.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/08/25

Full Review

Laszlo C

Lots of a interesting information. Well worth the watch time. A great learning experience

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/24

Full Review

Karissa H

Heartfelt, informative and impactful documentary of a mother and son struggling with reality of Alzheimer’s Disease. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much watching 1 film. It’s unforgettable and unforgettable is an amazing accomplishment in today’s film industry. You did it Max. Good job.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/24

Full Review

Lila S

What a heartbreaker of a movie, and so clearly a labor of love by the filmmaker Max Lugavere. It sheds light on how personally devastating dementia is for the person who has it and their family members, in this case a relatively "young" senior. Interspersed with the story is the latest information available about lifestyle choices that could potentially mitigate this disease, but it seems there are still no definitive answers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/24

Full Review

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Max Lugavere

Director

Chris Newhard

Director

Jacob Matthew

Producer

Hilla Medalia

Producer

Max Lugavere

Executive Producer

Chris Newhard

Executive Producer

Little Empty Boxes: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Once a strong and independent woman, Kathy Lugavere finds herself struggling with her memory. In a quest to find his mother the best care, 32-year-old son Max moves home to New York City and begins to consult with top health experts to investigate the origins of Dementia, a disease which now affects a staggering 55 million people globally. The deeply personal film chronicles Kathy's experience with Dementia as Max explores methods outside of prescription medication to slow her illness down. LITTLE EMPTY BOXES presents a raw perspective of Kathy's journey, the hardships of being a caretaker, and a son willing to do anything to save his mother.

Director: Max Lugavere, Chris Newhard
Producer: Jacob Matthew, Hilla Medalia
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Medalia Productions, Booklight Film Company
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 40m

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