Old Goats premiers in Seattle

Old Goats is the often hilarious and always heartfelt story of three older men who refuse to go quietly into the night of retirement and old age. Cantankerous and set in their ways, each man must come to terms with the sunset years in his own unique fashion. Shot in and around Seattle, Old Goats finds humor in the everyday foibles of retirement life, providing a refreshing perspective on the golden years through the eyes of three men who don't feel (or act) anywhere close to as old as they look. Old Goats has been shown at the Seattle and Palm Springs International Film Festivals

The movie, Old Goats, premiers at Seattle’s SIFF Cinema Uptown 511 Queen Anne Ave. N at 4:45pm on Friday, Aug. 17th, is compelling. At first I asked myself, ‘What is it about the lives of three men over 70 living on Bainbridge Island that is holding my interest? Then, I felt a compulsion to let them continue to unfold their stories in the low key, nonextraordinary manner of this film. I relaxed my need to expect a clear plot, and deeper meaning and found the non-message of this movie offered important lessons. This award winning movie was written and directed by Taylor Guterson, son of David Guterson author of the acclaimed novel Snow Falling on Cedars.

Old Goats gives moviegoers a creative experience of the day-to-day lives of people searching for meaningful experiences later in life. This thirty-year-old hears the voices of people in their 70’s and 80’s with an honesty not often expected of his contemporaries. His choice to use average folks relating to each other amidst their everyday lives, rather than professional actors, kept this portrayal true. The film was a favorite with audiences and was recognized as the Best of the 2011 Seattle International Film Festival.

Old Goats centers on the lives of three elderly men Britt, Bob and Dave. Britt, a single guy living a simple life onboard a boat, plans a great adventure but struggles with his commitment to it. He bumbles through the dating scene but in the end may have found a more realistic path to something positive. Bob, the oldest, has lived a life of adventures that he has celebrated in a book. He is a ladies man and age hasn’t changed him. His wilderness and military experiences, and his women, provide a counterpoint to Dave, the third in the trio. Dave, a successful and recently retired corporate executive is feeling the pressure of his wife’s desire for a relaxed life of golf in the sun of the southwest. He seems to struggle as he prepares to leave the adventures and perspectives he experiences as part of this unlikely trio of friends.

Older viewers will see a part of themselves or friends in these characters. Younger people will find them human, believable and humorous. Each person on this planet is a unique individual, but a common, recognizable human thread runs through us all. In Old Goats, Taylor Guterson lets us see and respect that.