PARK CITY
Just got back from a screening of Young@Heart down at the Broadway in Salt Lake. This is a film I've wanted to see now for several weeks, having seen a trailer for it at one of the Landmark theaters in LA. Fox Searchlight is releasing it in April, so this is one film at the fest that won't have to worry about trying to find a buyer.
So... The basic premise: senior citizens singing rock and roll songs? They can't necessarily carry a tune, but they sure can warm your heart. Founded in 1982, the Young@Heart chorus, composed entirely of senior citizens in their 70s, 80s and 90s, has entertained audiences around the world with "unique" renditions of rock, punk and other songs by artists such as the Clash, Coldplay, James Brown and Talking Heads. The film follows the group through six weeks of heavy rehearsal leading up to their new concert, for which their choral director has introduced six new songs for them to learn, including Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia" and Allen Toussaint's "Yes, We Can Can."
At first glance, you're pretty much thinking this is a one trick pony... a gimmick if you will. Sure, it's great fun to watch these elders try to learn lyrics to songs that they can barely stand, but there's more going on here. Beneath the hilarity lies a heartwarming look at a group that's found new life together - a group that, despite all the gripes about not liking various songs and being annoyed at the time they have to spend memorizing lyrics that muddle their tongues, still meets regularly for rehearsal even when one of their members is going through chemotherapy. This is a tale about finding a reason to get up in the morning and scream when you're at an age where being passive and quiet are mostly expected. And, inevitably, it's also a tale about death and the loss of close friends (which I won't detail for fear I'll ruin too much of the story).
Ultimately Young@Heart is a film that manages to be funny, inspirational and touching all at the same time. Anyone who thinks that life ends after 70 should absolutely see this film. And even if you're quite sure life doesn't end after 70, you'll still get a total kick out of watching these vibrant characters perform song after song in a way you've never heard it before.
Following the film we had a great Q&A with the filmmakers (director, producer, editor) as well as Bob, the choral director of Young@Heart. As with nearly any documentary, these Q&As really help to flesh out the story within and beyond the film, giving insight into how the group got started, how Bob chooses songs for the group and how the filmmakers even hit upon the idea to document the group in the first place.
We're off bright and early tomorrow morning for an 8:30 screening of Transsiberian. For now, time to sleep.
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