Review: "Young at Heart"

Seen on: May 17, 2008

The players: Director: Stephen Walker, Cast: Joe Benoit, Eileen Hall, Bob Cilman, Fred Knittle, Bob Salvini

Facts of interest: The chorus is still performing live on stage, so you may be able to catch them in a city near you.

The plot: The film follows Young at Heart, a chorus of senior citizens as they gear up for a big performance in their hometown of Northampton, Massachusetts.   

Our thoughts: “Young at Heart” gives old a whole new meaning. This wild, heartwarming documentary challenges the stereotype of the elderly being stuck in the past and unwilling to open their minds to new ideas, proving even senior citizens can have all it takes to engage in unusual activities and rock the stage, no matter what their age.

Based in Northampton, Massachusetts, Young at Heart is a chorus of energetic seniors who find immense passion in reinterpreting contemporary and classic songs by Allen Toussaint, The Clash and Coldplay, among others. In the movie, documentary filmmaker Stephen Walker observes the group during rehearsals several weeks before its big one-night concert in its hometown.

Teaching a group of old folks to memorize songs like Toussaint’s “Yes We Can Can” or Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia” may seem like an impossible task, but chorus director Bob Cilman brings along enough patience and expertise to make it happen. The numerous rehearsals prove to be the film’s most hilarious sequences, following the eager performers as they struggle with the lyrics and melodies of their new songs.  

Walker also gives audiences a more detailed insight into the lives of several chorus members, visiting their homes and casually hanging out with them to learn more about what makes them tick and what drives them to sing punk, rock and R & B at their age. But for most of them, singing is what keeps them going. It’s what keeps them well and alive.

There’s a significant change in pace during the second half of the film, when two chorus members are forced to take a break from rehearsing due to sudden illnesses. Although preparations for the big performance remain on track, the general atmosphere of  “Young at Heart” takes on a more depressing touch, which is noticeable also in the chorus’ singing. Gone is the uplifting spirit that made the first part so vibrant and innovative.   

Freaky quote: “While Jack is sitting here, we have the possibility that he'll pass a kidney stone for us today.” – Bob Cilman

The final word: Even though “Young at Heart” runs for too long, the film draws a sincere portrait of a group of seniors with remarkable spirit and energy. It’s an emotionally charged documentary loaded with big laughs and tons of surprises, some of which will cheer you up while others may move you to tears. Fred Knittle’s solo of Coldplay’s “Fix You” is probably the film most memorable moment. The flick loses some of its innovation during the second half, but the final showdown on stage should leave most cinemagoers feeling good. Rock on!