Bob Cilman, Jim Armenti, Joe Benoit

Prepare to be entertained by the inspiring individuals of Young@Heart, a New England senior citizens chorus that has delighted audiences worldwide with their covers of songs by everyone from The Clash...( read more  read more... ) to Coldplay. As Stephen Walker's documentary begins, the retirees, led by their strict musical director, are rehearsing their new show, struggling with a discordant Sonic Youth number and giving new meaning to James Brown's "I Feel Good." What ultimately emerges is a funny and unexpectedly moving testament to friendship, creative inspiration and reaching beyond expectations.

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91% liked it

4,155 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

98 critics

PG, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Stephen Walker

Release Date: July 1, 2007

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DVD Release Date: September 16, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (1,055)


  • March 30, 2009
    What more can I say about this beautiful 'feel-good' documentary? I know (on paper) it sounds like something you should skip, but trust me, it's an amazing experience. Elderly folks singing songs by the likes of Sonic Youth, James Brown and Coldplay is far more entertaining and t...( read more)ouching than you might think. Not just funny, but really cool as a life drama too. Highly recommended to all, just probably not what you expect.
  • March 1, 2009
    Decent documentary. Apt title, not for old farts...
  • January 17, 2009
    Documentary about a choir group from Northampton, Massachusetts, average age 80, that sing rock & roll tunes. Overly precious, even condescending, narration, mars the film. At times, feels a little like one of those "old people are cute" segments that often end nighttime newsca...( read more)sts. However it's hard not to like this film, these people are wonderful and their heart shines through.
  • September 16, 2008
    The very premise of "Young@Heart" could make anybody smile, and it's shown with great enthusiasm as the group tears down the house after two months of hard work at the end of the movie. On the surface, this is a film about a whole bunch of cute old people who are in over their he...( read more)ad trying to learn songs like "Schizophrenia" by Sonic Youth - which proves to be extremely difficult to comprehend for people who only adore opera and classical music. However, this is a film about companionship and faith, and it's startling and ironic in it's blatant and sometimes brutal honesty. One of the most beautiful, sad, and memorable moments in a documentary i've ever seen was when an old man sings a solo rendition of "Fix You" by Coldplay after his friend had passed away.

    Young@Heart is a chorus group of people between the ages of 70 and 93. The only thing old about these people is their outside, however. When we meet Eileen Hall, a flirtatious and lively 91-year-old woman, we realize that these people are simply nothing more than rock stars. The group is led by Bob Cilman, who can be extremely harsh but ultimately loves and cares for all the members of his group. Magically, we see Cilman whip this group of old people into shape to perform renditions of "I Feel Good" by James Brown and "Yes We Can Can" by Allen Toussaint live in front of a sell-out crowd. And before we get to the final show (which all rock and roll movies end on), there's another extremely charming and touching performance put on for prisoners. The group arrives to the prison in a yellow school bus, which certainly is more than truthful as it regards the spirit of these people.

    Young@Heart works so well because the characters are irresistible. The film is under two hours, but we feel like we get to know all of them. I also very much liked that they weren't limited to cute old people in over their heads, but at times they were under serious grief and stress. A few of these people readily admit that singing takes away the creaking bones and back pains, and in moments like that it completely humanizes the group into a large number of characters we root for, grieve for, and admire.

    It's not much of a spoiler to say that atleast one of the group members does not make it until the end of the film. A lot of the film's drama is based around whether or not a certain member will be able to perform due to their declining health. Death is handled in a way that's very mature and it doesn't exploit the pain that the group goes through. We see a few moments of grief and see an absolute downpour of emotion during "Fix You" at the end, but ultimately the focus of the movie is the music and the fact that the group will always go on.

    What's especially interesting in regards to death is how almost all of the songs Young@Heart performs can be taken very literally into quite ironic and morbid songs about their age. Take "Should I Stay or Should I Go", for instance. When sung by a 91-year-old woman, it instantly becomes a song about a woman pondering her longevity on the planet. "I Wanna Be Sedated" turns into a song about the familiar hospitals and misery that lies within them. Their comedy is lively and vibrant, but you understand that it's really ultimately very dark. They're almost poking fun at themselves, yet they never let their smile leave their faces.

    Throughout the film we get a glimpse at several surrealist music videos from the band. These are a very welcome break from the repetition of problems with health and band rehearsal, and they're bound to make you smile. These folks are just having a blast and living up the last years of their lives more than most of us allow ourselves to throughout the entirety of it. When prisoners cry, smile, and passionately hug and kiss members of the group - you realize that these people truly are remarkably special.

    I can't recall a documentary ever moving me as much as this one did. While a topic like this is bound to blatantly tug at the heart strings, it's still surprisingly effective and not overly-melodramatic in the slightest. This is one of the most charming and sweet movies i've seen this year, and the two hours was an absolute roller coaster of emotions. I loved this movie so much.
  • October 24, 2008
    Under the command of musical director Bob Chilman, the Young At Heart Chorus is a chorus group of senior citizens with an average age of 81(!), who perform songs from a diverse repertoire ranging from James Brown to The Clash.

    As we watch the Young At Heart rehearse for their ...( read more)latest show over the course of seven-weeks, the struggle against ailments is a bigger battle than learning how to perform Sonic Youth's 'Schizophrenia.'

    This documentary flick reads to me as an ad for metamucil, vitamins xyz supplements, and heart combining food diets rolled into one.

    Still, they are highly watchable old folks (some grumpy) who are colourful, quirky and determined. Chilman does a wonderful job with the chorus and it is amazing to see the transformation of the songs which often take on new meaning considering the physical fragility of the performers.

    The doco is perhaps in favour of inspirational rather than pitiful. The flick is a celebration of those who are tenacious and young at heart individuals.
  • November 11, 2009
    One of the most touching films I've seen in a very long time! It's filled with such energy, enthusiasm and youth. Truly inspiring!
  • October 25, 2009
    It's great to see these older folks out there and enjoying life, even if sometimes they don't get what they are singing, they still give it their all.
    Inspiring and touching, everyone should watch this.
  • October 23, 2009
    You'll laugh, you'll cry and you may never look at senior citizens in the same way again. This movie will get inside you. It is a brilliant Documentary and a great work of cinema. The music's not bad either! 4 stars
  • October 22, 2009
    GREAT documentary.Id tell anyone to go see it
  • September 22, 2009
    Erg leuke en ontroerende docu over een koor van gemiddeld tachtig jaar dat punk- en rocknummers zingt.

Critic Reviews


October 17, 2008
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

A worse film might be dismissed as sobsploitation. But Stephen Walker's documentary - a labour of love inspired by Walker's first sight of the group in a London West End show - touches the mind as wel... full review

April 20, 2008
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

Inspirational, funny, sad and very satisfying. full review

April 18, 2008
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

It's an emotional tapestry, sure to both delight audiences and move them to tears. full review

April 18, 2008
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

In Young@Heart, the prison is old age, and every song's a jailbreak. full review

April 11, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Not only is it enjoyable, Young@Heart is a heartening and poignant affirmation of the transformative power of music. full review

April 8, 2008
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Young@Heart's worst enemy is its director, Stephen Walker, whose incessant pushing and prodding strives to manipulate in ways both needless and trite. full review

View more Young at Heart (Young@Heart) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • markclarno1
    October 6, 2008
    http://www.foxsearchlight.com/youngatheart/

    http://www.youngatheartchorus.com/

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