Throughout the documentary, a series of scenes set in the near future serves as a glimpse of what lies ahead—what the film suggests could arrive within the next decade. These sequences follow a woman living well past a century, aided by advanced monitoring and medical interventions. They ask us to consider what living longer would mean for society, our relationships, and our sense of purpose by placing scientific discovery alongside human experience.
Personally, I find Forever Young both fascinating and scary. Philosophically, the idea that scientists and philosophers are diving deep into the molecular minutiae of preventing or delaying aging and death feels like an obsession. The documentary even brings up the Fountain of Youth. The issue is not whether the Fountain of Youth exists, but the obsessive pursuit of it. As the film points out, when you hit thirty, you reach a pivot point. From there, the disease of aging actively works against your body’s ability to repair itself. How far will you go to cheat death? Would you live in a hibernation chamber until a cure for your ailment is discovered?
“…both fascinating and scary.”
At the same time, Forever Young spotlights the things we do and the environmental factors around us that can shorten our lives. The oldest person on record lived to 122, and our lifestyle choices can take years off that potential. Thanks to medicine, our average lifespan has almost doubled. Meanwhile, our understanding of food and nutrition has largely disappeared, and UV exposure can cause rapid deterioration if we’re not careful. Then there are the snake oil salesmen who claim they’ve found the key to longevity with a pill or a shot.
Don’t get me wrong: I love that the documentary offers practical ideas for extending our lives. These are things we can do now, centered on taking care of our bodies through what we do with them (exercise), what we put into them (nutrition), and a mix of natural and scientific supplements meant to support the process. As a caution, be skeptical and do your research. It’s your life, and ultimately, you’re responsible for what happens. There is also a thorough discussion about how happiness and personal fulfillment are key to living a long life. It is honestly a message everyone needs to hear.
In Forever Young, David Donnelly presents aging as a challenge that crosses biology, psychology, economics, and love. He frames longevity not as a cold scientific goal, but as a deeply human pursuit. By the end of the film, the central question isn’t how long we can live, but how relationships, personal meaning, and the choices we make over a lifetime define what it means to live well.
"…really gets in the weeds on its subject."
