Join us for a screening of the documentary film Cycle of Memory, the story of two grandchildren's quest to find the memories their grandfather lost to Alzheimer's by recreating his 1945 bicycle adventure. The audience is encouraged to consider their own experiences with the films' themes and engage in meaningful dialogue with each other and establish connections across generations beyond this one event.  

The film runs for 1 hour 12 mins. A virtual discussion with Director, Alex Leff, and Nicole McGurin of the Alzheimer's Association will follow.

About the film:

Mel Schwartz escaped the Great Depression on a bicycle adventure he’d remember for the rest of his life. But when Alzheimer’s takes Mel’s memories away, it’s left to his grandkids to recreate the life-changing bike trip and find those memories again.

Guided by old photographs of the 1945 trip, they search for places aged by time. But while searching for Grandpa Mel’s past, the two are confronted with their own fraught history. If they’re going to complete the turbulent journey, they’ll have to face their own emotional potholes and tumultuous relationship.

With the help of a grandmother learning to live alone for the first time, Mel’s lifelong friend and co-adventurer on the bike trip, and a family collection spanning 1950s film reels to 1990s video tapes, Cycle of Memory explores the importance of intergenerational connection, healing painful pasts, and leaving a meaningful time capsule for the future.

About the filmmaker:

Alex Leff is an emerging documentary filmmaker and director of Cycle of Memory. Alex studied documentary film at Hampshire College in Amherst and as a student created two feature films on climate change and since graduating in 2016 has dedicated himself to making Cycle of Memory. In addition to his own films, Alex has worked for HBO and Vice Media.

Presented in partnership with Lexington Goes Purple.

This program is made possible by the generous donors to the Cary Library Foundation.