While Waiting 2017
"Her only personal belonging is the memory of her two great loves: her mother and husband."
Directed by Paola Villanueva Bidault, *While Waiting* (2017) is a poignant documentary that immerses viewers in the quiet resilience of Lola, an elderly woman living in a shared public nursing home.
Director: Paola Villanueva Bidault
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is While Waiting (2017) about?
*While Waiting* follows Lola, a resident in a public nursing home, as she navigates a world of shared spaces and routines. Haunted by the memories of her mother and husband—both gone but never forgotten—she finds solace in small daily rituals. The film explores how love and loss shape her final years in a place designed to strip away individuality.
Who directed While Waiting?
Paola Villanueva Bidault directed *While Waiting*, bringing a sensitive and observational approach to this intimate documentary.
Who stars in While Waiting?
The documentary stars Dolores Martínez García as Lola, alongside Luciana Ramos López and María del Carmen Zamora Vázquez in supporting roles.
Is While Waiting (2017) worth watching?
While it's an unrated film, *While Waiting* offers a deeply moving and atmospheric experience for fans of character-driven documentaries. Its themes of memory and resilience resonate strongly, though its slower pace may not appeal to all viewers. If you appreciate films that find beauty in quiet moments, it's worth a watch.
How long is While Waiting?
While Waiting has a runtime of 77 minutes.
About While Waiting (2017) — A Documentary on Memory and Loss in Later Life
Directed by Paola Villanueva Bidault, *While Waiting* (2017) is a poignant documentary that immerses viewers in the quiet resilience of Lola, an elderly woman living in a shared public nursing home. Every shared space—whether the cramped showers or the single coffin set aside for endings—reminds her of her solitude, but Lola clings to memories of her greatest loves: her late mother and husband. These cherished recollections become her lifeline, driving her daily ritual of watching from her window and dialing old numbers that no longer connect. The film paints a stark yet tender portrait of endurance in the face of inevitable farewells, where love outlives absence and routine becomes a fragile act of defiance. Bidault crafts an intimate, atmospheric exploration of memory, loss, and the fragile threads that bind us to the past.
Set against the backdrop of an impersonal institution, *While Waiting* transforms loneliness into a deeply human experience. With delicate pacing and understated performances, the movie captures the quiet strength of a woman who finds purpose in the past, turning grief into a daily ritual. It's a moving meditation on how we hold onto what matters when the world offers little in return.