Review: "Young@Heart"

When I exited the screening of Young@Heart one month ago, I had wet sleeves and a newfound respect for old people. To say the least.

The documentary--which was annointed a Sundance hit in early 2008--examines the lives and practice regiments of the Young@Heart choir, a profoundly dedicated and enthusiastic group of singers, none of whom are younger than 68. And did I mention that all the songs they perform are choral twists on songs--both hit and obscure--from the pop music lexicon? And that they've shot music videos, made with a smile and expectation-shattering wink, for such lyrically relevant songs as "I Want to Be Sedated"?

The emotional force of Young@Heart comes from the film's many surprises and I mean that in terms of the subjects and the filmmaking choices. Although, initially, the director, Stephen Walker, is a little too amused by his own subject matter--he's actually seen giggling like a schoolboy with one of the saucier female chorus members, so proud of what he's found--he never lets the film drift away from him. There's little to no footage of reminiscing about times long gone; rather the focus stays on the practices that lead up to the climatic show, the big time to come. Every choir member discusses their participation with joy, excitement, and sober judgement that emphasizes how little these people see their twilight years as "twilight years." It's just more fun to be had.

And, like in "The Wire", my favorite characters kept dying. It is, of course, a documentary, so when I say "character," I mean the actual choir members. The deaths are handled with grace and eloquence and a show-must-go-on spirit. (I handled them less well, consistently wiping tears away in my seat, so attached had I become to these singers.)

The show does go on and the performances that the tough-as-nails choir director is able to get out of these seniors are impressive, but still believable enough to be inspiring. I don't think I'll ever be able to listen to "Fix You" again without bursting into tears and "Nothing Compares 2 U" will forever be a eulogistic anthem in my mind. When, right after learning about the death of one of their comrades, the choir performs an exhibition show at a prison, it's your heart that will sing.