YOUNG @ HEART
A group of senior citizens takes the stage. One elderly woman steps up to the mike and lets out a howl, as the group launches into the Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go.”
That’s the opening of a wonderful movie called “Young @ Heart,” a smart, heart-warming antidote to big-budget summer blockbusters.
The movie was made by director Stephen Walker and an English TV crew who spent seven weeks in Northampton, Massachusetts, documenting the rehearsals of a unique group of old people, who have dedicated themselves to covering a wide range of rock songs. And I do mean wide: through the course of this movie, you’ll hear everything from the BeeGee’s “Stayin’ Alive” to the Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime.” You’ll also get to know some some of the 24-member Young@Heart ensemble (average age 81), and their untiring and inventive music director, Bob Cilman.
The plot, such as it is, centers around the group’s preparations for an upcoming concert. Cilman is determined to teach them three new songs: Allen Toussaint’s “Yes We Can Can,” Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia” and James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” (See what I mean about eclectic music choices?) But to Cilman’s dismay, the group has trouble with every one of these new numbers. Case in point: there are 71 “cans” in “Yes We Can Can,” and the singers just can’t get them all straight. Even greater obstacles loom ahead, as some group members become ill, and even die. Can the show go on?
I won’t reveal much more, except to say that there are moments in this movie that will have you in tears, and others that will have you laughing and cheering. One such moment comes when the group gives a practice concert at the county jail – and is greeted by hugs from the hardened inmates. There’s not a dry eye in the jail (or in the movie theater) when the group performs Bob Dylan’s great blessing/anthem, “Forever Young.” These old people are full of life and their unusual musical direction has plugged them into a socket of seemingly boundless energy and merriment. As one observer notes, “I’ll never complain again about feeling too old or too tired.”
Go see this movie. Bring the family, old and young. You may never look at older people the same way again. Who knows, they may be practicing some Kinks tunes.
“Young @ Heart” is rated PG, possibly because of the sophisticated music selection.
That’s the opening of a wonderful movie called “Young @ Heart,” a smart, heart-warming antidote to big-budget summer blockbusters.
The movie was made by director Stephen Walker and an English TV crew who spent seven weeks in Northampton, Massachusetts, documenting the rehearsals of a unique group of old people, who have dedicated themselves to covering a wide range of rock songs. And I do mean wide: through the course of this movie, you’ll hear everything from the BeeGee’s “Stayin’ Alive” to the Talking Heads’ “Life During Wartime.” You’ll also get to know some some of the 24-member Young@Heart ensemble (average age 81), and their untiring and inventive music director, Bob Cilman.
The plot, such as it is, centers around the group’s preparations for an upcoming concert. Cilman is determined to teach them three new songs: Allen Toussaint’s “Yes We Can Can,” Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia” and James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” (See what I mean about eclectic music choices?) But to Cilman’s dismay, the group has trouble with every one of these new numbers. Case in point: there are 71 “cans” in “Yes We Can Can,” and the singers just can’t get them all straight. Even greater obstacles loom ahead, as some group members become ill, and even die. Can the show go on?
I won’t reveal much more, except to say that there are moments in this movie that will have you in tears, and others that will have you laughing and cheering. One such moment comes when the group gives a practice concert at the county jail – and is greeted by hugs from the hardened inmates. There’s not a dry eye in the jail (or in the movie theater) when the group performs Bob Dylan’s great blessing/anthem, “Forever Young.” These old people are full of life and their unusual musical direction has plugged them into a socket of seemingly boundless energy and merriment. As one observer notes, “I’ll never complain again about feeling too old or too tired.”
Go see this movie. Bring the family, old and young. You may never look at older people the same way again. Who knows, they may be practicing some Kinks tunes.
“Young @ Heart” is rated PG, possibly because of the sophisticated music selection.
posted by The Grappling Greek at
1:25 PM
1 Comments:
having seen them live, i can't wait to see the movie. forever young got all the kids at my college teary eyed and that's really saying something considering my been-there-done-that seen-it-all generation.
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