Young@Heart

Get ready to rock out with the most entertaining golden oldies you will ever meet a fun-loving seniors choir called young @ heart. This feisty troupe performs songs from james brown to coldplay - & proves that hard rock can be hard when you are hard of hearing! Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 09/16/2008 Run time: 108 minutes Rating: Pg

The questions start as soon as you know that Young@Heart is about a group of singing senior citizens as they prepare for and then perform a concert with a repertoire consisting of songs by the likes of Coldplay, Sonic Youth, and James Brown. Can this premise, basically a novelty, sustain itself for nearly two hours? Will the director give in to the temptation to make it schmaltzy and sentimental? Will we be laughing at these oldsters, or with them? The answers: yes, no, and a little of both. Directed by British filmmaker Stephen Walker, the 2007 film takes place primarily in Northampton, MA, home to the Young@Heart chorus, whose average age is 80. Most readily admit to preferring classical and musicals to the pop and rock given to them by music director Bob Cilman, and some of the tunes--Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia," Allen Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can" (once a hit for the Pointer Sisters), and Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)"--prove especially vexing. But the singers' good natures and determination to master the material over some six weeks of rehearsals carry the day. Most of all, while they thoroughly enjoy themselves, it's no joke to them, and thus not to us, either. Of course, folks this age are bound to have health issues; indeed, the specter of death hangs over the scene like a banshee, occasionally making itself right at home. But the chorus members' insistence on carrying on in the wake of tragedy makes for a climactic concert that's moving and powerful--Fred Knittle, who had withdrawn from the group due to heart issues but whose beautiful bass voice remains intact, returns for this one show to deliver a version of Coldplay's "Fix You" that will bring a tear to the eye of the most flint-hearted cynic. Mixed in along the way are the group's "videos" of songs like the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" and David Bowie's "Golden Years"; bonus features include deleted scenes and a brief featurette about Young@Heart's gig in Los Angeles. --Sam Graham

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Stills from Young @ Heart (Click for larger image)

This is a very hard movie to slip into the DVD player. The marketing is all way off on this thing. The barrier was, oh no not some stupid movie about a bunch of old people singing hymns, or at best acting stupid. This movie is none of that. It's a pretty decent example of how documentaries should be made. Much better, and more engaging than I thought possible.

I found myself caring a lot about the two people that die. And it was sad to see who passed away after the film was shot.

The good, the rehersals are pretty funny. There is no major mind-numbing repitition of songs performed, the director kept that fresh. The final performance is wonderful. There aren't too many back story biographies to confuse the viewer.
The bad, the sound mix is a bit strange. The dynamic range is way too large, music / siniging is extremely loud and dialog is muffled. There's actually a spot or two where the surround channels cut in and out. There is some truth to the humor wearing thin after a while, old people singing rock music.

A decent film for the family. Younger children might not be exactly very interested in the story. But there is nothing objectionable in the film.

Take senior citizens age 70 and above, teach them some rock & roll, add some polish by their demanding director, and you've got the Young at Heart chorus, which has delighted audiences all over the world. This movie follows the group through several weeks of rehearsals all leading to their big show. Bob Cilman, the director, throws songs at the oldsters that require concentration, memorization, and a keen sense of timing. At first, songs like "I Think I Can Can" (with 71 "cans") and "I Feel Good" seem to get the better of the singers, but with grit and determination they overcome problems of pitch, rhythm, and lyrics to deliver a knock-out performance. All is not sweetness and light, however, as we get a behind-the-scenes look at some members who are battling life-threatening diseases, and for whom the chorus seems to be the only thing keeping them alive. The Young at Heart members truly care about one another and the poignant ending shows the strong connection they have with music and with one another.

Thanks for such a quick delivery!! This was shared with a Senior Choir in the Assisted Living Facility I work in as Activity Director. This was so inspirationsl to all our choir members, they are ready to go to the next level!!

This movie, a documentary, is one of the most touching and inspiring things you could watch. Makes you realize that life isn't over at 65, even though it's not as easy as when you were 35. Watch it and share it with your family and friends.

This is a delightful and very real documentary about a group of older citizens who participate in a choir in western Massachusetts. It opens discussions of the reality of aging, but shows how much one can still be active and giving at older ages as well. I loved it!