The journey of a father and son through time is the focus of Chris Hemsworth’s latest documentary, A Road Trip to Remember. The film follows the actor as he embarks on a profound exploration with his father into the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
In an interview on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty, Hemsworth discussed his family’s experience with Alzheimer’s while promoting the documentary. He revealed the early signs of his father Craig’s condition.
Previously, on his series Limitless, Hemsworth learned he carries two copies of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. His father initially reassured him not to worry.
From his home in Byron Bay, Australia, Hemsworth, aged 42, shared: “I remember vividly that conversation of him sort of telling me not to be concerned about it.”
He added, “And then about two or three years later, my mom saying to me, ‘I think we’ve got to get dad checked because there are these signs and things I’m concerned about’.”
The initial signs of the disease observed by the family were common indicators of Alzheimer’s.
“The obvious one memory and slight mood changes and shifts and forgetfulness and so on,” Hemsworth noted, explaining that genetic tests revealed both of his parents shared this genetic marker.
This discovery indicated that their children, Liam, Luke, and Chris, also carry two copies of the APOE gene.
While Craig initially dismissed it as ‘no big deal’, his condition eventually deteriorated. This prompted Hemsworth to consider ‘doing something around brain health’ with his father.
Instead of hiding his health issues, Craig embraced the opportunity to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s, hoping it might ‘shed some light’ on the disease and that they might ‘learn something along the way.’
“He says it in the documentary, but his biggest concern was being a burden. And that was heartbreaking to hear and consider,” Hemsworth explained for Disney Plus. “And I had never even, up until we shot the documentary, I didn’t know even how he felt about it, you know, because I hadn’t asked him.”
The documentary evolves into a motorcycle journey for Craig and Chris, as they explore the disease and an unconventional approach to Alzheimer’s therapy.
Traveling from Melbourne to the Northern Territories, they engage in extreme reminiscence therapy, aided by the University of New South Wales, by visiting and recreating significant locations from Craig’s past.
Utilizing their production budget, the Hemsworths recreate their first family home, complete with Point Break posters and jars of Vegemite.
While the therapy aims to help Alzheimer’s patients retrieve past memories, several poignant moments arise in the documentary.
During a visit to their old Melbourne home, Craig asks, “Where’s Leonie? She coming?” referring to his wife. Moments later, he repeats the question, visibly affecting Chris.
On Shetty’s podcast, Hemsworth shared that caregiving responsibilities had led him to decline many opportunities to spend more time with his father.
He reflected: “I know I’m not going to get 10 years down the track and go, ‘I’m glad I did those extra three or four films.’ I’m going to say, ‘I wish I spent more time with him, and with my mom, and with my brothers, and my wife, my kids, and family, and friends.'”