Saturday, 13 June 2009

Young at Heart
(Young@Heart)
(2007)

60%



Rather mediocre documentary with no true underlying theme. It contains no real understanding of old age and the condescending narration does not help matters much. We learn nothing of value and the people interviewed remain affective ciphers.

Where it scores is in its being very funny about the fact that 'No one gets out of this life alive!' Indeed, two of the performers die while the film is being shot; but this does not deter the remainees from going on – in memory of those who passed on.

And there is also no getting around the fact that the sight of octogenarians belting out rock 'n' roll numbers is both extremely funny and life affirmingly tear jerking - in equal measure. The sight forcefully reminds us of our own mortality in a way that words cannot fully fathom nor describe. These choral performances are such fun that it becomes a mite churlish to point out the film's many flaws – so I shall stop right now.


Copyright © 2009 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.

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