Tangled Magazine

Young@Heart

A film review by Laura Hartley

5.0 OUT OF 5.0 STARS

Directed : Stephen Walker
Runing Time : 108 minutes
Language : English

Imagine a choir that consisted of 80 year olds singing Coldplay, Sonic Youth, Jimi Hendrix and Outkast.  That’s exactly what the documentary Young@Heart show’s us – and it’s fantastic. 

Young@Heart is a Massachusetts chorus, formed in 1982, which consists of senior citizens singing rock, pop and disco.  Led by chorus director Bob Cilman, the group have headlined tours through Europe and America, as well as performing to the King and Queen of Norway.   

Director Stephen Walker follows their intense rehearsals and private struggles in the seven weeks prior to a European performance.  The elderly members of the chorus are truly inspiring and have a real passion for what they do.  Many of them have long outlived what doctors expected, and one is even crooning Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ onstage while attached to an oxygen tank. 

The choir also perform at a local jail as a warm up to their European tour and receive a standing ovation from the prisoners.  This film is heartbreakingly sad at times (for reasons if stated would ruin the movie) but will also have you laughing out loud as these gutsy seniors try anything. 

Touching, moving and inspirational are the only words that describe this brilliant documentary – one that everyone should see.

The Sydney Film Festival is showing from June 4 - June 22, 2008.