Seniors of Arizona

Young@Heart

Description

Get ready to rock out with the most entertaining "golden oldies" you will ever meet, a fun-loving senior citizen’s choir called Young@Heart. To prepare for a show in their hometown that is only weeks away, the lovable seniors must learn a slate of new songs, ranging from James Brown to Coldplay. The chorus’ tireless musical director leads the group through a series of hilariously chaotic rehearsals, proving that hard rock can be hard work — especially when you’re hard of hearing! Climaxing in a triumphant performance that will leave you cheering, their inspiring story celebrates the unbreakable bonds of friendship and the life-affirming power of music!

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on carrying on in the wake of tragedy makes for a climactic concert that’s moving and powerful--Fred Knittle, who had withdrawn from the group due to heart issues but whose beautiful bass voice remains intact, returns for this one show to deliver a version of Coldplay’s "Fix You" that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

Beyond Young @ Heart on DVD

The Visitor on DVD

Once on DVD

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day on DVD

Stills from Young @ Heart (Click for larger image)

Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-07-14
Summary: "You Will Never Forget Fred Knittle...."

......singing Coldplay's 'Fix Me'. Be prepared to cry. This is an amazing film. Find it. Watch it. You will not regret it.

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Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2010-07-07
Summary: "How do I join this Choir???"

I had seen this video with friends a few years ago, and it kept coming back to mind. I asked several of my friends did they remember it? Some had never seen it, so I started looking on Amazon to see if it was available. Of course, it was. I ordered 3 copies and between us, we are showing it to everyone in our town, one evening at a time. I get such a delight in this movie, then the prison scene makes me cry every time. I have now loaned my copy to a friend, who is showing it to her church group.... Sure hope I get it back. I am serious about the title, I want to join this bunch of "old" singers. How do I do that?

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-06-13
Summary: "Forever Young!"

What a wonderful documentary - and no irony intended - it just never gets old. Despite the slight egomania of the music director ( I mean,torturing the singers and the audience with "Schizophrenia"???)I defy anyone not to laugh out loud at some of the performers and performances nor to cry out loud at some of the renditions of the songs. I've purchased several copies for myself, friends and family - one for my 84 year old Mom who labels it as "good medicine" when she's feeling sorry for herself for feeling old.

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Rating: 4 / 5
Date: 2010-06-08
Summary: "heartwarming and hopeful"

This documentary shows you that age is all in the mind. I bought it for my 90-years-young mom who didn't process it entirely when she first saw it but afterwards she wanted a copy to show her friends at the Senior Center. I loved the part where they perform at the correctional facility and you can see tears in the eyes of the inmates. It's obvious that these oldsters love to perform and love each other. It's beautiful.I gave 4 stars because there was a lot of driving around to and from rehearsals and performances and I thought it could have been tighter, but the central theme was unbeatable.

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Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2010-05-03
Summary: "A documentary of aged singers remaining young..."

This film is a documentary of a group of singers with an average age of... 80. They've toured the US and Europe, and their repertoire includes modern, pop, and rock songs.

And, unfortunately, because of their age, their mortality is much more of a consideration than with probably any other performing group on the planet. Two die in the 8 weeks covered by this film.

It is the energy, however, of these singers and performers, that drives this picture. They don't have the flash, the moves, nor the pizzaz of a 25 year old performer for American Idol. But they love to perform, and it shows.

This is not an action movie. You will wonder just what kind of performance results when some of the singers have difficulty remembering their solos of two lines, and walk across the stage with a cane, and with difficulty. When their physical condition keeps them from practicing. When their swan song, quite literally, can be their final song.

But they live to sing, and singing makes them live. This film captures this passion well.