New documentary looks at changing views on turning 40

There’s something about turning 40 that causes many people to reassess their lives in ways that might not occur to them when they reach other milestone birthdays.

A new documentary looking at the extraordinary lives of four 40-something professionals is debuting this weekend at the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival. “Hello Forties” is a 37-minute film with the goal of challenging societal norms surrounding what it means to be 40.

It screens Sunday morning at 10:30 at the Parkway Cinema in McKees Rocks.

The conversations featured in the movie deal with topics that all four of the subjects are dealing with: mental health, addiction, race, sex and gender roles.

The project is the brainchild of executive producer/director Monique Holley and her co-executive producer, Neneh Diallo.

“When you’re in your 20s and 30s, you’re provided a pass to still figure things out. But when you move into your 40s, we put a certain level of pressure on ourselves, as does society, to literally have it all figured out,” said Holley, 47. “That’s where (the idea) came from.

“When I turned 40, I was very hard on myself. Even in 2022, the perception remains that your life has to be completely figured out by 40. I felt a certain level of pressure, and I knew I wasn’t the only one,” she said.

“Hello Forties” is proof that Holley is not alone in her 40s angst.

The real-life characters in the film all have issues they are confronting. They include a Pittsburgh native, comedian and entrepreneur, Tony “T-Robe” Roberson, who spends a good part of his life making people laugh — he has opened for Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart — but he also battles depression.

Actress Dana Hicks-Hungerford was addicted to ecstasy pills, and grieves the loss of her father and the prospect of not having children.

British-born filmmaker Fiona Dawson is recovering from an abusive marriage while living as an openly bisexual woman and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community across the U.S.

And Dominican-born Rachel Urena is juggling love, family and her career.

Holley said those in the film all experienced what she calls “aha” moments after they turned 40.

“I think the common denominator is that they are overcomers, and we see that in the film,” said Holley. “They are still on their journey, but no one has given up.”

In the documentary, Roberson recalls having a horrible night onstage and having to deal with its aftermath.

“I go into these bits I was doing, and I told a penis joke or something and it was just too early. And when I told it, I could hear the silence in the room. It was awkward, and when they didn’t laugh, I wasn’t ready for that,” he said. “I didn’t have enough strength in me to fight through that, and I started stuttering. It was just so uncomfortable.”

But, by the next night, Roberson had pulled himself together and went out and had a successful set.

One of the more riveting scenes in the documentary is when Dana Hicks-Hungerford speaks openly about her ecstasy addiction.

“It was to the point where I wouldn’t leave the house without taking a pill,” she said. “I was happy every day, and I didn’t think anything was wrong. I didn’t look at myself like I was a drug addict or anything. I was living a good life, so I thought.

“My dad was the only person who told me that I shouldn’t be doing it. But he couldn’t stop me. I started to come around once I had a stroke.”

Holley wants one of the takeaways from the film to be that, even at 40, it’s okay not to have it all figured out. She said turning 40 in 2022 is not “your mother’s 40.”

“The 40s (today) just look different,” said Holley. “When I was younger and my mom was in her 40s, it was just a completely different look. I feel we’re just more progressive now, and technology has a lot to do with that. We have so many different opportunities.

“When I was growing up, gender roles weren’t as fluid as they are now. My husband was just saying the other day that we really don’t have gender roles anymore. I think we’re moving in the right direction because it allows room to really do what you love to do.”

Holley said she would be happy even if only one person saw “Hello Forties” and was inspired to live life on their own terms.

“My goal is to make sure that when people see it, it moves them to do something different,” said Holley. “If how you are moving through life is not working for you, if you are not happy, you need to stop making those decisions that are making you unhappy and to be brave enough to live the life that you want to live, whatever that may be.”

The Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival runs Friday through Sunday at the Parkway Cinema in McKees Rocks.

For more information, visit pghindie.com.