While seniors and old age homes have been some of the hardest hit by COVID-19, filmmaker Robin Baker Leacock wanted to shine a light on their inspiring lives in these uncertain times. The documentary ‘Stella & Co’ celebrates the life of her almost 104-year old mother, Estelle Craig, known as Stella and either other vibrant seniors, at a seniors residence in Florida.
It is a collection of personal stories and interviews, which talks about a variety of prevailing and thought-provoking issues. The film allows viewers to get an a beautiful and optimistic glimpse at how it feels to age at a time of a global pandemic. The message is displayed through the tools of humour, wit, music and the art of storytelling.
In her hometown Toronto, Stella was a pioneer in several fields. As a journalist, she did numerous interviews for CBC Radio, launched Cinema 16, and founded World Adventure Tours inviting top international filmmakers to Toronto over a 45-year span. Stella also wrote seven books after the age of 95 and five books after she turned 100. She passed away on February 11, 2019, before her 104th birthday.
Stella & Co will be shown nationally on PBS this spring/summer. The 50-minute film can be viewed in Toronto on PBS WNED-TV, Saturday, July 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Check out the trailer and documentary here.
