I guess the "good ole days" pretty much sucked for most people...

[JB5pro]

I don't understand "shaking your head at".
I think the lady shows that she has had a very hard life of many disappointments and likely spent much of her adult life in varying stages of depression over many things. The man at the stereo looks content and may be just that. The salesman seems to me to have had a very sad life of loneliness chasing after a retirement that likely never happened.
When I get a chance I will watch the entire documentary which happens to be a highly respected film by a very special man who is still working on great works. Then I will know if my perception is off. I think it is called "Salesman" from 1968.