The ideology behind Still Mine

Still Mine (2013) is a low-budget based-on-a-true-story Canadian film just a step above a Lifetime movie (do they make those anymore?) that's mostly worth watching because of its honest portrayal of a couple in their 80s who, despite the deterioriating health of the woman (Genevieve Bujold) and the cranky stubbornness of her husband (James Cromwell), remain in love with each other - they even maintain a healthy sexuality. Well, you can see that this film is obviously not aimed at a mass-audience demographic, as there's practically nobody in the small cast of characters under 50, and most are well past full retirement age. Story itself: because of Bujold's deteroriating health, they decide - despite her resistance - to "downsize" and Cromwell, a crotchedy independent sort, decides to build their new, smaller house himself. Thing is he doesn't like the various government requirements - building permits, inspections, etc. - and repeatedly resists orders that he comply. The somewhat noxious building inspector orders him to stop work, and the issue winds up in court (and in the local newspaper), at which time - surprise! - in an impassioned address to the court Cromwell gets permission (or so it seems, not made absolutely clear) to proceed and complete the house - and he and spouse (Craig & Irene Morrisson) were still living there in their 90s at the time of the film. OK, I work for the government so I'm not without bias here, but I don't like these movies that make public employees into faceless and stupid bureaucrats and that give the impression that the rules and regulations are pointless. They're not. Imagine if he built the house and one day the roof collapsed, killing someone - and the outcry that it had never been inspected, why didn't town officials do their job, etc. Perhaps in Canada it's easy to see independent spirits like Cromwell/Morrison as throwbacks to the good old days when people could get by on their own (or with a little help from neighbors and offspring - and, by the way, with a pretty damn good public-health system that seems to take good care of Bujold/Irene Morrison). In the U.S., however, he looks a hell of a lot like a Tea Party anti-government activist, hating all government relations and interventions - until they need their Social Security, Medicare, education, transportation, protection, and so forth. There's an ideology behind this film - even if the Canadian filmmakers don't get it - that isn't about preserving a way of life but about destroying our civic, democratic culture.