It’s not uncommon for today’s movies to present stereotypical images and experiences of older adults on screen: Characters easy to ignore, or portraying faulty memories or cognitive decline, or even seniors dismissed as caricatures of real people. It’s the rare film that provides a real picture of the complex and nuanced lives of today’s older adults.

But perhaps the times are a-changing. New films, both modest and major, are now being made that reflect a more realistic view of what it’s like to live, and love, as an older adult in today’s world. First up, take a look at Baby Won’t You Please Come Home, written and directed by Christopher Piazza. While a fictional story, the film provides a poignant view of what it’s like to be afflicted with Alzheimer’s and to take care of a person with Alzheimer’s. So pull out your tissues and read more here. And for a wider array of additional films that present complex and subtly-portrayed stories, take a look at the Legacy Film Festival on Aging that will be held in San Francisco from Sept. 20- Sept. 22. Founded and directed by 81-year-old Sheila Malkind, this festival has run for 9 years and provides portraits of older adults that do not succumb to cliches or caricatures. Included in this year’s 21 films are such titles as Life Model (about an aging nude figure model), A Chance to Dress (about a retired professor who has come out of the shadows as a crossdresser) and Flat Echo, which tells the story of a wife trying to communicate with her composer husband who is ravaged by Alzheimer’s. There are fictional tales, documentaries, animated films and plotlines involving caregiving, loneliness, sexuality, and love. So grab your popcorn and read more about the festival here and follow the excitement on the festival Facebook page here.