At age fifty, Alice Howland (Julianne Moore) has it all: a Columbia University linguistics professorship, a devoted husband, and three loving children. Her life is a whirlwind of work and family, and she thrives on it.

But, while lecturing at UCLA, something unexpected happens: mid-sentence, she struggles to find a word. Though a seemingly innocuous relapse, the incident leads to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, a stunning realisation that sees the bonds between Alice and her family thoroughly tested.