With Valerie Bertinelli, ‘Love, Again’ explores the struggle of Alzheimer’s and caregiving

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After a doctor’s appointment, a husband and wife of 35 years walked slowly through the hospital, stunned by the test results. They held hands, a silent acknowledgment that they were facing a serious challenge, and soon.

The Lifetime movie “Love, Again,” which premieres Saturday at 8 p.m. Pacific Time, tells the story of Judge Henry Stanford (Henry Czerny), a 60-year-old man diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. He’d been hiding his increasing forgetfulness from his wife, Caroline (Valerie Bertinelli), and pretending to keep his routine doctor’s appointments.

Throughout the movie, penned by Nancey Silvers and directed by David I. Strasser, Henry’s health worsens, and Caroline dedicates herself to caring for him. However, she quickly feels overwhelmed by the physical and emotional demands of being his only caregiver.

Bertinelli, who also helped produce the project, explains that Caroline is sensitive, but shares a similar trait with her: the ability to stay strong and handle responsibilities even when facing difficult or frightening situations.

The story wasn’t something I, as a filmmaker, had lived through personally, but when the idea of tackling it came up, a colleague, Linda L. Kent, started to tell me about a friend whose spouse had Alzheimer’s. I actually stopped her, though. I told her I didn’t want the details of the story itself. I just needed to understand the raw emotions – what it felt like for that woman, how she coped, and what was the most difficult thing she faced. I figured I could create the specifics of the story myself, but I needed to truly feel her experience.

The author, daughter of the famous comedian Phil Silvers, was moved by the 2014 film “Still Alice,” which portrayed early-onset Alzheimer’s. However, she was surprised by what she discovered while researching the disease. She’d hoped for more progress toward a cure, but learned that Alzheimer’s is actually becoming more common. After speaking with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America – which reports nearly 15 million Americans are affected by or caring for someone with the disease – Silvers learned about encouraging new drugs and treatments. While not a cure, these advancements can help people with Alzheimer’s stay healthier for a longer period. She incorporated this hopeful message into her film.

Beyond the research aspects, Valerie Bertinelli deeply connected with the emotional difficulties of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. She’s experienced the slow loss of loved ones and understands the hardships faced by caregivers. She explains that the role of a caregiver is often overlooked, and recalls watching her father experience sundowning before his death in 2016 – a confusing state where he seemed both present and lost. This experience gave her a personal understanding of just how challenging caregiving can be.

I found myself really drawn into the emotional core of this film, particularly Caroline’s struggle as she cares for her husband, Henry, who’s facing a heartbreaking decline. He’s increasingly confused – forgetting simple things like alarm codes and even family members – and she’s determined to handle it all herself. But then she meets Dr. Leo Marford, a hospital doctor who understands her pain. He lost his wife to ALS, so they share a unique connection. Actress Helen Bertinelli really captures the complexity of Caroline’s feelings; there’s a definite spark with Leo, but she’s still deeply devoted to her husband, and that creates some beautifully conflicted emotions. It’s wonderful to watch both characters slowly start to heal and brighten each other’s lives.

When creating the two male characters in the film – one representing a long-term partnership and the other a supportive, caring connection – Silvers drew directly from her own life. She explains that both characters are based on her husband, and the story reflects how they navigate similar challenges, even though they haven’t personally experienced them. She imagined him facing these struggles, gradually losing more each day, and used those imagined emotions to create a realistic and moving portrayal. It’s a difficult and emotional process, but that’s what gives the story its authenticity.

When portraying Leo, who’s a bit younger than Henry in the movie, Silvers drew inspiration from her first impressions of her then-husband.

Caroline is starting to have feelings for Leo, but her priority remains caring for Henry, which is becoming increasingly difficult both emotionally and physically. This leads to a heartbreaking moment where Henry doesn’t recognize Caroline and, for the first time, becomes physically aggressive towards her. The show’s creator, Silvers, struggled with where to stage this scene, considering scenarios where Caroline couldn’t find Henry or he had wandered off. However, she felt those situations had been done before. Ultimately, she chose the bathtub because it felt like the most vulnerable place for Henry – naked, unable to recognize Caroline, screaming, and physically lashing out before suddenly remembering who she is.

Even though it was a crucial scene and her co-star suggested using a stunt double, Bertinelli was determined to perform it herself. She wanted the moment to feel authentically and painfully violent, reflecting the experience of losing a loved one, something she knew many people go through.

She explained that she wanted to capture the feeling of being invisible and the fear and violence of a moment where someone isn’t truly seen. She aimed to make it genuinely frightening.

Strasser meticulously planned the scene, prioritizing the safety of the actors, particularly Bertinelli. The scene involved Henry grabbing Caroline, and then her falling to the bathroom floor as she pulled away. Strasser explains he only wanted to film the fall once, saying, ‘We’re not going to do this 10 times.’ He positioned the camera far back to capture the moment in a wide shot, emphasizing the room’s space and the force of Caroline’s fall for the audience.

Surprisingly, the difficult event actually brings Caroline and Leo closer. Caroline calls Leo for help with Henry after what happened at home, and it’s then that their relationship begins to change. According to Silvers, Leo’s sensitive handling of the situation is when Caroline starts to fall in love with him. His medical experience also helps him stay calm and understanding, as he’s dealt with similar challenges with his own wife.

Bertinelli hopes viewers will take away a powerful message from the film: when life gets tough, turn to the people around you. She believes that love and support are always valuable, no matter the source. As she’s gotten older, she’s realized how important it is to both give and receive support from her close friends.

After a career spanning more than fifty years in film and television, the actor says they are most proud of this recent project. While they also enjoyed working on shows like ‘Hot in Cleveland’ and ‘One Day at a Time,’ this new work holds a special emotional significance for them.

Valerie Bertinelli has had a packed year, starting with the release of her memoir, “Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Imperfectly Perfect.” She’s also created a thriving online community at ValeriesPlace.com, sharing recipes, cooking videos, and hosting live chats. These chats often include discussions about her show, “Love, Again,” like the one following Saturday’s airing.

Turning 66 has made me realize how quickly life passes, and it’s a little frightening. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what I want to focus on in the years ahead – my ‘third act,’ if you will. I’m asking myself what I still want to achieve and how I can best show my love to the people who mean the most to me. It’s all about love, and continuing to prioritize it.

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2026-05-08 13:33