Young@Heart Documentary Review

Think of the Young@Heart chorus as the world’s oldest and coolest cover band. Comprised entirely of senior citizens in their 70’s through 90’s, they’ve been rocking audiences around the world since 1982 with an eclectic musical repertoire that includes The Ramones, Jimi Hendrix and The BeeGees. The chorus now stars in an eponymous documentary (opening April 9^th in limited release) which chronicles the preparation for their newest show, buoyantly titled “Alive and Well”.

In October of 2005, director Stephen Walker was introduced to the group the night they performed in his native London. He and his producer/wife, Sally George, were looking for their next project and George saw great potential in the senior singers. Walker was initially skeptical as a few old-timers emerged on stage assisted by walkers. He admits, “I remember thinking this could either be awful or it could be extraordinary.”

His got his answer moments later as the lights dimmed, the chorus rose and launched into a remarkable interpretation of the Talking Heads song “Road to Nowhere”. He was instantly struck at the resonance the music carried in the hands of the singers. That initial impact can be seen throughout the film as Walker peppers music video interludes (including one for “Road to Nowhere”) that punctuate the story with a David Lynch meets David LaChapelle feel.

“I Wanna Be Sedated” takes on a whole new meaning when given the MTV overhaul then setting the video in a nursing home and featuring a man confined to a wheelchair rolling down the putty colored halls singing lines like: “I can't control my fingers, I can't control my toes”. It’s funny and sad, shocking and endearing.

“Young@Heart” begins with “task master” musical director, Bob Cilman, introducing the first song they’ll be learning for the show; “Schizophrenia” by hometown heroes, Sonic Youth. If you’re unfamiliar with the sound of the band, it should be noted that they are considered one of the great “Noise Rock” groups of all time. Remember when your parents used to scream for you to “Turn that racket down!”? This was the music they hated hearing and it gets a mixed reaction from the chorus, some tapping toes and bobbing heads, others plugging their ears.

Considering that almost all of them contend that they love “Classical [music] with Opera on top”, they’re pretty good sports. Even when they dislike a song or struggle along the way, you can see their passion for music and the desire to try anything new. As one cast member says, he joined the chorus to “broaden [his] horizons”…He’s 86.

But struggle they do. If you’ve ever tried to teach someone over the age of 50 to text message, you’ll feel enormous swells of sympathy for Cilman. You think getting a 60 year old to type “c u soon” is difficult? Imagine teaching musicality, rhythm and lyrics. It makes programming the VCR look easy. As a musical director, Cilman is tough, even harsh on occasion. He isn’t a hand holder and doesn’t treat the seniors with kid gloves or pander to them like children. He demands the best from them and they strive mightily to deliver while you find yourself gripping the arm rest, silently praying that lyrics won’t be forgotten. Who knew James Brown was such a beast to master?

The films emotional resonance comes from the knowledge that everything is finite. No one wants to be reminded of their mortality but there’s no way to shy away from it when you’re watching a film comprised of a group with a median age over 80. One of the most poignant scenes is during a performance inside a prison. Time is a cruel mistress. For some it moves too fast, for others, too slow and here you see the brutality of that reality at its most blaring.

Truth be told, I haven’t cried this hard in a film since “E.T.”, however, the threat of death is the best reminder of life and “Young@Heart” ultimately inspires you to live every day fully and passionately. They may be old, but they’re still rocking.