The premise of The Intern is deceptively simple, yet it taps into a very contemporary phenomenon. Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro) is a seventy-year-old widower who has retired from a successful career. However, the quiet life of retirement does not suit him. He feels a void where his purpose used to be. In a bid to stay active and engaged, he applies to a senior citizen intern program at a fast-growing e-commerce fashion startup.