In a nursing home, nurse Baker (Lauren Holly) assigns Mina Ayoub (Ana Golja) to care for Luis Garcia (Louis Gossett Jr.), a Cuban musician suffering from dementia. She tries to connect with his music. Bano Ayoub (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is her progressive mother who is still holding onto her Afghan home. Her cousin sets her up with Kris (Giacomo Gianniotti).

The Notebook uses flashbacks to add life to a confined drama. This one is trying to use Mina's personal life. That's the weaker half of this movie. I don't find the romance all that compelling. It doesn't have much heat. What would be more compelling is Luis' life in Cuba. If only they could film half of the movie there. As for LGJ, I love his face and its age. I find his recovery a little abrupt. I do like the son's conflict with him, but it needs more space. There are various elements being thrown into the pot. All of it is commendable, but the movie needs more cohesive tension. This is an admirable try.

A well meaning, but far-fetched story of a premed student working in a nursing home environment whose residents suffer primarily from dementia and Alzheimer's. She establishes a meaningful connection with one of the residents who initially is deemed hopeless for recovery. She achieves this bond by using his Cuban background (food, music, etc) to reawaken his senses by stimulating his memory. Of course, she meets her fair share of obstacles along the way. The movie is not awful but I wouldn't want to spend money in a theater to see it. The acting is good but the writing is mediocre. I'd recommend it on a rainy or snowy afternoon at home.

Mina (Ana Golja ) is a pre-med student working at a nursing home where the aunt who raised her is an administrator. She cares for Luis Garcia (Louis Gossett Jr.) who has dementia and stays on calming drugs. When she notices a picture of a musician on his wall, she manages to break through to him with music. He was a famous Cuban musician. The administration does not take kindly to her rogue behavior.

This is a heart warming drama, bitter-sweet at times. The forces in our lives that seek to make things complicated run counter to Mina's desire for simplicity.

Guide; No swearing. 1 love scene. No nudity.