Sunset Story on AllMovie

Sunset Hall is a managed care facility for the aging with a difference; located in Los Angeles, Sunset Hall is described by its proprietors as "a nonprofit retirement home for free-thinking elders," and Sunset is home to a group of elderly residents who haven't allowed their years and their infirmity to quiet their voices or their consciences. Sunset Story is a documentary about the residents of Sunset Hall, in particular two recent arrivals, 95-year-old Lucille Alpert and 81-year-old Irja Lloyd, who become fast friends. While Lloyd has been confined to a wheelchair following a major heart attack, with the help of Alpert, the two frequently participate in political demonstrations (the staff often organizes field trips around activist opportunities) and frequently debate the issues of the day with Lloyd frequently taking a more optimistic viewpoint and Alpert displaying a greater cynicism. Sunset Story received an enthusiastic reception when it premiered at the 2003 Los Angeles Film Festival.