Watched Young@Heart the other day, the doco about the elderly choir who do rock songs. It was great. Not often you walk out of a cinema feeling more grounded than when you went in, but this does that.
Not from the movie, here’s the choir doing Nirvana’s “Come as you are”:
Also not from the movie, the choir singing with David Byrne:
And this one from the movie, the bit that turns a Coldplay song into a genuine heartbreaker.
Watch this movie.
5 thoughts on “Young@Heart”
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I agree: see it. I went on Sunday. Loved it. Wept buckets. Fred singing the Coldplay song reminded me very much of Johnny Cash’s rendition, towards the end of his life, of the Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” – something about his age, his quiet gravitas and the beautiful range and depth of his voice convert a teen-angsty song into something deeply poignant. A propos of Johnny Cash, Fred sings “Ghost Riders in the Sky” early in the movie.
Crikey, don’t mix that last clip with wine. :~|
I cried most of the way through that movie (which was good as I was really in need of a solid cathartic cry).
🙁
I’m deeply cynical about movies like this. Are you SURE it’s not just a manipulative “Aw the poor dears almost got it right and it’s so sad that old people are so close to death” sort of thing? ‘Cause I’ve read some reviews which imply that the director’s narration is condescending and that some of the footage mocks the performers.
Joey – the director is a nobend, for sure. As Cal and I noted while watching, though, it doesn’t matter that he keeps asking stupid questions, because their answers are so good. They effortlessly take control of the film and make it about themselves.
What I responded to, what I think you can’t help but respond to, is the whole picture, death as part of life like friendships and hobbies and family. Even an old cynic like you would enjoy it, I reckon.