SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (WordNews.org) Jan. 16, 2013 – Fannie is an elderly woman who hides her loneliness with crankiness. That doesn’t stop Louise, a lonely young woman, from befriending her.
That’s the premise of “Flowers for Fannie,” a new faith-based film that encourages young adults to look at the elderly with a fresh perspective.
“When I found out that this was the lead role, I went, really?” said Patricia Binkley, a 72-year-old retired schoolteacher who plays Fannie.
Filmmakers Fred and Sharon Wilharm knew that she could relate to Fannie.
“In my life I can relate to death of a loved one or being abandoned or whatever, so I can cry when I think of certain things,” Binkley said.
Brittany Wilharm, who plays Louise, said the movie will resonate with old and young alike.
“Most movies are written for a young male audience, but we feel that older adults deserve a movie they can relate to,” she said. “And young viewers appreciate it as much as their elders. The humor, music, romantic storylines, and relatable characters appeal to young and old alike and give them a better appreciation of each other.”
“Flowers for Fannie” will be released on DVD on Feb. 1, but online viewers can watch a free sneak peek at 7 p.m. (CST) on Saturday, Jan. 26 . The entire movie will be available for online viewing for three hours.
“Our desire is that churches will use ‘Flowers for Fannie’ as a way to bridge the gap between youth and senior adults,” Wilharm said. “If churches have a dinner and movie night with the youth serving the seniors, it puts into practice the message of the movie. I’d love to see them follow up with an Adopt a Grandparent program.”
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