| How to Live Forever | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mark Wexler |
| Written by | Mark Wexler Robert DeMaio |
| Produced by | Mark Wexler Mark Luethi |
| Starring | Suzanne Somers Phyllis Diller Ray Bradbury |
| Cinematography | Sarah Levy Allan Palmer Robin Probyn |
| Edited by | Robert DeMaio |
| Music by | Steven Thomas Cavit |
| Distributed by | Variance Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
How to Live Forever is a 2009documentary film aboutlongevity, written byMark Wexler andRobert DeMaio. It is also directed by Wexler, and the film follows him on a three-yearpilgrimage[1] to discover the best practices and philosophies to help mitigate "the uncool trappings of old age."[1] With the death of his mother (artistMarian Witt-Wexler) and the arrival of anAARP card, Wexler begins to wonder if one can truly achieveimmortality. He interviews an eclectic group of celebrities, health care professionals,centenarians, followers ofLaughter Yoga, and scientists contemplating technology’s impact on the average lifespan in an attempt to conquer death.[2]
Wexler visits the home of fitness legendJack LaLanne and his wifeElaine for a personal training session and a raw food smoothie. Often called the "godfather of fitness", Jack LaLanne was among the first to publicly preach the health benefits of regular exercise and a good diet. In 1936, when LaLanne was 21 years old, he opened one of the nation’s first fitness gyms, and in the 1950s he filmed a series of television exercise programs. LaLanne invented several exercise machines, was inducted to theCalifornia Hall of Fame in 2008, and has a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[3]
In the documentary,Suzanne Somers speaks to the International Congress on Anti-Aging Medicine in Las Vegas. She describes the array of hormones that she takes daily, explaining why she is a supporter of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Author of numerous diet books and autobiographies, Somers also wroteAgeless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones. Somers is an actress, author, and businesswoman, best known for her role asChrissy Snow onThree’s Company.[4]
Aubrey de Grey is a British author and theoretician in the field ofgerontology. His studies focus on researching and developing tissue-repair strategies intended to prolong lifespans. De Grey is theeditor-in-chief of theacademic journalRejuvenation Research, author ofThe Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging, and co-author ofEnding Aging.[5] Wexler, as well as news sources likeThe New York Times, theBBC, andFortune, have interviewed de Grey to learn more about his theories on anti-aging.
Also featured in the documentary is celebrated American writerRay Bradbury, who is best known for his booksFahrenheit 451,The Martian Chronicles, andSomething Wicked This Way Comes. ThePulitzer board recognized Bradbury "for his distinguished, prolific, and deeply influential career as an unmatched author of science fiction and fantasy."[6] Many of his works have been adapted into television shows or films. When asked if he's afraid of getting old, Bradbury replies, "No, I’ve never had that fear; I knew that I was collecting truths along the way."
ComedianPhyllis Diller had maintained the stage presence of a boisterous, eccentric housewife with an unusual laugh in stand-up and sitcoms since 1952.[7] She guest-starred in dozens of television shows and also voiced the Queen in Disney’sA Bug's Life, Jimmy’s grandmother in Nickelodeon’sJimmy Neutron, and Peter Griffin’s mother inFamily Guy. In the documentary, Diller states she believes comedy is important to health, maintaining that "laughter fluffs up every cell in the body."
Claiming to have been born in 1906, Pierre JeanBuster Martin was a 104-year-old beer drinking and chain-smokingmarathon runner. He did not include fish, dairy, tea, or water in his diet. Buster smoked since he was seven-years-old and followed a diligent regimen of beer, cigarettes, and red meat.[8] In 2008, Buster successfully finished theLondon Marathon. When Buster was not training for marathons, he cleaned vans forPimlico Plumbers insoutheast London. On April 12, 2011, Buster finished work, had a beer, and went home. He died that night, at age 104.[9]
Jonathan Gold, a food critic who writes forLA Weekly, shares anOki Dog and his philosophy of food with Wexler. Gold claims that "eating is one of the great pleasures of life", and believes that those with diet restrictions are missing out on a lot that life has to offer. He is the author ofCounter Intelligence and has written for several magazines throughout his lifetime. In 2007, Gold became the first critic to win thePulitzer Prize.[10]
Dr. Madan Kataria gives viewers of the documentary a prescription for longevity: "Laugh ten minutes every day for no reason." Known as the "Guru of Giggling", Kataria researched the physiological and psychological benefits of laughter and started aLaughter Yoga club in 1995 with just five people in a public park in Mumbai.[11] The unusual exercise routine combines yoga breathing with laughter exercises, and it has grown to more than 6,000 Laughter Yoga clubs in over 60 countries.
In the documentary, Eleanor Wasson reveals that being a vegetarian and drinking vodka every night are a few secrets to her 100-year lifespan. Throughout her life, Wasson was a volunteer, an activist, and a devotee to social and political causes of various kinds. She was the founder of WomenRise for Global Peace and had been a long-time fighter against the spread of nuclear weapons. For thirty years, Wasson was the Coordinator of Volunteer Services forUCLA. She died April 6, 2008.[12]
Pico Iyer, a British-born novelist, essayist, and travel writer, also makes an appearance in the documentary. He regularly contributes toTime,National Geographic, and theNew York Times on various subjects.[13] Iyer is a close friend of the director and is, Wexler claims, "the sanest person I know." He turns the camera on Wexler, asking the director to examine his own hopes and intentions for making the documentary. He asserts that like the ending of books and films, "death makes sense of everything that comes before it."
The documentary, contrary to its title, is not a how-to guide to eternal life. Rather, it is an examination of different philosophies and perspectives on life, offering viewers a glimpse into the science and commercialism in fields like funeral planning,cryonics, and anti-aging practices. Meanwhile, the film challenges viewers to examine their own notions of whether to combat or accept the inevitability of aging; it is this dilemma that drives Wexler’s search both around the world and within himself, asking the question, "If you could take a pill to live 500 more years, would you?"
How to Live Forever premiered at the 17th AnnualHamptons International Film Festival[14] in 2009. It was also screened at thePalm Springs International Film Festival[15] in January 2011 and theGasparilla International Film Festival in March 2011.
In addition toHow to Live Forever, Mark Wexler directedTell Them Who You Are (2004), about his father, cinematographerHaskell Wexler, andMe and My Matchmaker (1996). He also co-producedAir Force One (2002).Me and My Matchmaker won anAudience Award for Best Documentary at the 2006Slamdance Film Festival.[16]
Robert DeMaio, director of the 1983 TV seriesAgainst the Odds and writer of TV documentaryReversal of Fortune (2005), co-wroteTell Them Who You Are andMe and My Matchmaker with Wexler. Mark Luethi is co-producer ofHow to Live Forever andassociate producer ofTell Them Who You Are. Stephen Dypiangco, producer of marketing and distribution for 2011Oscar-winnerGod of Love, is also producer of marketing and distribution forHow to Live Forever.
The following people are featured inHow to Live Forever :