About First Cousin Once Removed

First Cousin Once Removed, released in 2013, is an HBO documentary film. This intimate portrayal by the director, Alan Berliner, chronicles the life of his relative, Edwin Honig, a poet, critic, and translator known in the literary world who suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Plot and Summary:

The narrative is centered on Edwin Honig's struggle with Alzheimer's, as Alan documents his experiences and shared interactions. It engages viewers in a poignant, evocative journey through memory, loss, and the ravages of Alzheimer’s. The film presents raw and honest moments, as viewers gain insights into Edwin's past - his triumphs, regrets, dreams, and works - which are being slowly wiped away by the disease.

Making / Production

Alan Berliner spent five years making First Cousin Once Removed. The film is a brave and unflinching piece that highlights the universal human experience of memory and the fear of its loss. Berliner creatively juxtaposes past and present, layering sounds and images to mirror the fragmented state of Honig’s mind.

Actors

• Alan Berliner: As the director, Berliner also takes on a role in-front of the camera, documenting his cousin's demise and presenting a sensitive exploration of his life and illness.
• Edwin Honig: Edwin, diagnosed with Alzheimer's, is the subject of the film. His life, work, and memories form the crux of this documentary. His portrayal of himself in the grips of Alzheimer's is both raw and heartrending.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title of the movie refers to director Alan Berliner's familial relation to Edwin Honig; they are first cousins once removed.
• Edwin Honig was a hugely respected figure in literary circles, best known for his translations of Spanish and Portuguese literature.
• The film marked one of the last public appearances of Honig, capturing his resilience despite battling Alzheimer's disease.

Awards

The movie has won several awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in 2012.

Quotes

• "Memory's another word for change." - Edwin Honig
• "I know there’s a past, and I know that I lived in it, and that I gave it up, to live only in the present." - Edwin Honig

Music, Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the movie significantly contributes to its narrative. Throughout the film, music helps build the atmosphere of living memories slowly fading away. However, the movie being a documentary, does not have a formal list of soundtracks.