Furuya Shiro This is a wonderful documentary film.I am 61 years old. I am much younger than the chorus members, and I still have a full time job. Even so, however, I can not help seeing myself in them. Every time I see my own picture, I have to realize my hair is going and wrinkles are growing. In the beginning, the audiences applaud a woman of 92 years old, laughing and sheering. I felt like they applaud because of her age only. However, in this age, her figure itself is beautiful.One who suffer from strong spinal pain, one who had 20 chemo therapies, and one at serious risk of heart disease. Those people challenge difficult rock songs, sing at their best, and entertain the audiences. Isn't this an ultimate form of those who enjoy music?When one of the members died before the concert, a member said: "If someone fell down during the concert, we would move him to the wing of the stage, and we would go on singing." Even we are young at heart, we can not defeat ages. Even so, we will live current life through. This is the way to live life humanly.

Ari Herzog Imagine sitting in a room with 30 other people and an average age of 75.Imagine you and your peers recently toured Europe, singing covers of rock songs to sold-out audiences.Now you're back in the rehearsal studio and you're listening to a song that your great-granddaughter may adore but to you is a mishmash of noise. You can't decipher the words, let alone the staccato of the drum beat.Your leader asks you to try to listen to it because later on he will ask you to sing it. You're not a quitter, having survived numerous heart bypass surgeries, and moreover the leader has faith in you, so you adjust your hearing aid and persevere.When you ultimately perform the song on a stage in a sold-out amphitheater, everyone applauds.You did it! *** When was the last time you clapped and chuckled at a group of octogenarians singing covers to Sonic Youth, David Bowie, the Ramones, and James Brown? If you were like me, then see this film!

george.schmidt YOUNG AT HEART (2008) **** Rock of ages In Stephen Walker's documentary –or should I say 'rockumentary' – the Young at Heart Chorus, a group of senior citizens who sing rock and roll songs, based in Northhampton, MA, is profiled with breadth and levity showcasing their individual talents as well as performing as an ensemble, as well as their ailments and the living testimony that it is never too late to rock 'n' roll.Founded by Bob Cilman, a fifty something year old 'kid', originally as a choir specializing in old pop standards, Broadway show tunes and 'old folk' music he came up with the idea over 25 years ago to incorporate classic and contemporary rock staples which became something of a gimmick at first but fully realized as something more: underscoring many of the lyrics with a unique perspective and interpretation by his octogenarian sect (the media age of 80).Since then the group has barnstormed all over the country – and the world – and getting much acclaim. Walker films the several weeks of rehearsal for a new gig and Cilman's tough task-master skills at display in attempting to get his singers to hit the right notes, pick up the right beat cues and most importantly now the song cold. While there are some frustrations felt by Cilman for the most part he is fair and allows his group the time and effort to develop into a finely tuned body that is surprising in the process not only how they are attuned but also how they function. What is unexpected is the melancholy feel throughout as some of the members fall into bad health situations (sadly two of its key singers pass away before their fated concert the film focuses on) but it is also with plenty of humor, insight of what it means to be elderly but not 'old' and how in the autumn of one's life one can appreciate a new calling (i.e. many of the choir prefer classical music than the genre they are covering).The true highlights are the short videos interspersed through out the doc including "Stayin' Alive", "I Wanna Be Sedated" and a clever "On the Road To Nowhere", as well as a performance at a state prison to a captive audience. I was overwhelmed by the professionalism the troupe displayed as 'amateurs' in the old adage "the show must go on" and the true emotional peak is member Fred Knittle's heart- wrenching work on Coldplay's "Fix You" as a suitable eulogy to his fallen comrades; if you don't cry then you are simply made of stone.I whole-heartedly recommend you to seek this indie doc out and experience rock and roll in its purest form I've seen in a long time: aged yet wise, like a fine wine. One of the year's best.

Michael Fargo I went to this film almost begrudgingly. The trailer depicted a group of octogenarians singing punk, rock and pop songs that were, perhaps, inappropriate to their generation...and we'd all have a good laugh. While there is laughter here, I would have been better prepared knowing there would be devastating moments in this film that illuminate the human experience for all of us.While the songs indeed aren't the chosen fare for our seniors, the choice was carefully made to deliver an emotional whollop for the listeners. And they do deliver that ("Staying Alive" has a whole different meaning here than what the BeeGees intended.) Most of us dread the oncoming debilitation of age. But here we're shown a model of how to face that with not just courage but defiance. That's no small task for a film whose country generally neglects, abandons or warehouses its elderly. And it doesn't even have to be bitter pill. The charm of the individual choir members depicted is almost hard to believe.Anyone who has spent time among groups of the elderly won't find the usual complaining, small-mindedness or resentments. Most of that can be attributed to the unique talents of the director, Bob Cilman, who refuses to idealize his choir members or accept anything other than the best they can give. Not just as singers, but as human beings.The oft mentioned moment--illustrated in the trailer--when the group visits a penitentiary is a revelation on many levels. But it's also excruciatingly painful. If you have recently lost an aging parent or grandparent, you might be warned that this film is unflinching in its portrayal of loss. That's not a bad thing; I just wasn't prepared.Reading some of the comments posted here, I don't agree that anyone has anything to apologize for musically. This is performance art and it is splendid and powerful. I left the theater almost in a state of grace. And that's not what I expected walking in. There are small moments like the brief segment of the choir rehearsing Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" that I'll never forget. Thanks to the filmmakers for documenting this amazing group of people.