A coming of (old) age film follows an octogenarian woman’s transition to life in assisted living as she contends with her conflicting desires and self-narratives amidst her shifting age identity and memory.

Directed by: Sarah Friedland
Starring: Kathleen Chalfant, Carolyn Michelle Smith, Andy McQueen, H. Jon Benjamin
Written by: Sarah Friedland
Rating: PG-13
Running time: 90 minutes
Genre: Drama
Theatrical Release: June 20, 2025
Streaming: August 29, 2025
US & Canada Boxoffice: $134,315
Worldwide: $134,315
Country: USA
Studio: Music Box Films
Website: https://www.musicboxfilms.com/film/familiar-touch/

Ruth (Kathleen Chalfant), a retired cook, prepares breakfast in her sunny and cozy kitchen — a dish she seems to have made many times before, although small and puzzling errors now punctuate her comfortable routine. When her son (H. Jon Benjamin) arrives to dine with her, she mistakes him for a suitor. Their “date” takes them to an assisted living facility, which Ruth does not remember that she had previously selected for herself. Among her fellow memory care residents, Ruth feels lost and adrift, certain she has found herself somewhere she does not belong. As she slowly begins to accept the warmth and support of care workers Vanessa (Carolyn Michelle) and Brian (Andy McQueen), she finds new ways to ground herself in her body, even as her mind embarks on a journey all its own. Writer-director Sarah Friedland’s coming-of-old-age feature compassionately follows the winding path of octogenarian Ruth’s shifting memories and desires while remaining rooted in her sage perspective.