Private Project

69: Love Sex Senior

The elderly don't have sex or fall in love anymore. At least, that is what we all think. But is that really the case or is it something we just can't imagine? In 69: love sex senior elderly people of seventy and over give us an honest and disarming look into their sex and love lives.

  • Menna Laura Meijer
    Director
  • Menna Laura Meijer
    Writer
  • Joost Seelen
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Romance, Eroticism, Sex, Elderly, Taboo
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2013
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Language:
    Dutch
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • HRAFF
    Melbourne
    Australia
  • DOXA
    Vancouver
    Canada
  • Parnu
    Parnu
    Estonia
  • Peace & Love Film Festival
    Stockholm
    Sweden
    Best Documentary
  • Porn Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
  • Lens Politica Film & Art Festival
    Helsinki
    Finland
  • Guelph Film Festival
    Guelph
    Canada
  • Riff Raff Film Festival
    Zurich
    Switzerland
  • PopPorn Festival
    Sao Paolo
    Brazil
Director Biography - Menna Laura Meijer

After finishing her degree in journalism, Meijer made the short film ‘Girls’ (2003), for which she won the Kids & Docs award for best youth documentary and the Prix Jeunesse in 2004. Her documentary series ‘Sexy’ (2007), in which teenagers talk about love and sex, was nominated for the Banff Award, the Cinekid Kinderkast Award and received an honorable mention from the Nipkow Foundation. Her first feature-length documentary ‘Sweety’ (2009), about the murder of a teenager, caused a stir in the Dutch documentary world. In ‘Kyteman. Now What?’ (2011) Meijer follows young musician Kyteman, in the year between his successful debut album and its much-anticipated follow-up. The film premiered at IDFA 2011 and was nominated for Best Music Documentary. In addition, Menna Laura Meijer has taught at the Kids & Docs workshop and the IDFA Media Fund Workshop. From 2010 to 2012 she was head lecturer in Audiovisual Design at St. Joost Art Academy in Breda. She is also a visiting lecturer at IDFA Summer School, the Netherlands Film and Television Academy, Talent Campus Durban Film Festival and DokYou Cologne. From 2005 to 2011, Meijer was an advisor for the Dutch Media Fund.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In 2007 I made a documentary series called ‘Sexy’ about teenagers and their experiences with love and sex. The series aimed at entertaining and informing youngsters on the topic. It aired on Sunday evenings, when I was often at my parents and I remember how uncomfortable it made me feel to watch it with them.
My grandfather would often be there as well, but since I assumed his life was devoid of any sexual activity, his presence didn’t disturb me. One night however, as he was about to leave, he said: “You’ll make the next series for me, right? Don’t forget we have desires as well”. If I remember correctly, I yelled “yuck” and said I found it too upsetting to even think about.

It’s five years later now. My grandfather is dead. A news article reports that by 2015 the nation will have three million senior citizens. In 2040 that number will have risen to 4.6. On the radio, an announcer discusses an article in the new 50-Plus Magazine, titled “New Love, New Chances”.
Suddenly, I remember my grandfather’s words and wonder: what does a senior sex and love life look like? Is it together or alone? At home or in a nursing home? With sex or without sex? Are they in love, does lust still exists? Do they watch porn, do they get aroused, have fun? And why is this all so hard to imagine?