Sometimes, the only way to take down the pack of lions is to become a lion thyself. Metaphor aside, there seems to be a canker of sorts regarding the hardships spread throughout the facilities that lend a hand to senior-living homes.

Granted, these are complex centers to manage from a business perspective, but there is a justifiable (and purposeful) reason for the preservation and care of these spaces. Lead actress Melissa Miller takes the front seat in the Stolen Time documentary, a worthwhile reflection on the shenanigans and non-accountability on the corporate side of nursing homes. Her hard-ridden, staunch stance is an excellent synergy for this feature’s exploration into how the big companies have failed to support the elder class, including the basics of human dignity.

The plot encompasses her journey into hearing a litany of cases where elders have been put into catastrophic situations in their respective settings, with the seniors even having to bat solely for themselves (or handle another dozen lives). And as shown in the first act, COVID ripped apart the business further, with the deaths rising in these homes, springing more action into Ms. Miller’s hands to fight the higher-ups to make a difference. The animations, daunting photographs, and testimonies speak to the brutal state of affairs that necessitates radical change in the system and exemplify how time was instead “stolen” from these folks who paved the way for the younger generations.

The feature delicately receives information from other doctors, dentists, businessmen, and lawyers, showcasing the wretched times for the elders in these facilities, and it keeps humming along for its 86-minute trek.

For a simple documentary taking on a respective industry that has been shaken massively in the past few years, Stolen Time grants us a moment to become aware of the elders’ care again.