The Golden Years
This is a story about the enduring nature of love. How in a moment of emotional availability one partner can renew and revive the relationship.
Interview with Joshua Zev Nathan, Eythan Maidhof
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to make an adult children's storybook to help my parents love each other better.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Love is hard. Especially as time passes. When we fail to connect with our partner what does it take to reconnect? We learn that sometimes all it takes is a simple act of meeting each other on the same level and seeing one another eye to eye to understand our needs and feelings. Watch how one simple act creates a spark to restore loving safety to an aged and worn relationship.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
The enduring nature of love is a big theme. I've wanted to show that love can be mended and repaired over time as long as both partners are willing to work on it together. Sometimes it's as simple as touch.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Eythan and I were aligned pretty much immediately on the vision of the film. We wanted to make a film about a couple that suffers an unexpected tragedy and must find a way to reconnect and love each other. The very first idea for a scene that we had is still the opening scene of the film. We had our anchor from the get go, we just tightened up the story, script, and characters over time.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Eythan and I were aligned pretty much immediately on the vision of the film. We wanted to make a film about a couple that suffers an unexpected tragedy and must find a way to reconnect and love each other. The very first idea for a scene that we had is still the opening scene of the film. We had our anchor from the get go, we just tightened up the story, script, and characters over time.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has all been in support of our ideas and very positive so far. We always want to hear more.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I wanted to make this film for my parents so they could hold each others hands.
I hope anyone else watching would do the same to who they love.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I think our film is more of a poem than a question-sparking-debate type piece ... I think a core question for me within the film is how do we cope with the passage of time.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm in development for my second feature film as writer/director. I'm also finishing up post production on a short film, 'The Basics of Love,' another love story, but this one is about the very first moments that two co-workers begin falling in love. I'm getting ready to co-direct a short thriller entitled 'Cairn.' I also have ongoing work as a commercial director and producer, most recently I directed a few spots for New Balance. - Josh
Having just graduated The American Film Institute as a cinematographer I'm pitching for more narrative work, fashion films, and music videos. I love working with topics of coming to age and family values. Growing up I always wished I had someone guiding me like a big sister and that's what I set out to do for others in the work I want to create. - Eythan
Interview: November 2021
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The Golden Years
Length:
3:11
Writer/Director
Joshua Zev Nathan
Raised in a Mennonite village in Kansas, Josh was awarded a Mellon Fellowship for his feature doc, “Kansas an Eclogue,” (post prod). His narrative feature debut, "The Dreams of Rene Sendam," as writer and director will be released soon by Mutiny Pictures. He works as a commercial director (clients include New Balance and the LA2028 Olympic Committee). He appears in the role of 'Tilt' in Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film ‘Licorice Pizza.’ Josh has an MFA in Directing from The American Film Institute, and studied at Werner Herzog’s Rogue School.
Producer
Qiyi Fan
Born and raised in Chengdu, China, QIYI FAN graduated from UCSD with a BA in Visual Arts Media and a minor in Film Studies before pursuing her MFA degree of Producing at AFI. She has garnered her skills as a studying producer through producing seven shorts. As she is finishing up the program, she is participating in script development internships, as well as developing her thesis project, her own feature project and her producing portfolio.
Key cast:
Stephen Tobolowsky, Ann Hearn, Maddy McCuskey, Peter Schiavelli
Social media:
https://www.instagram.com/thegoldenyears.film/
Made in association with:
AFI Conservatory