Big Picture Big Sound

Really Stayin' Alive

Picture a woman over the age of 90 singing the Clash anthem, "Should I Stay or Should I Go." How about a group of senior citizens singing Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia" or perhaps the Ramones tune, "I Wanna Be Sedated." All that and more is present in "Young @ Heart," an obvious labor of love for all concerned.

The Young@Heart singing group is comprised of about 20 to 30 seniors from Northampton, Massachusetts. Their numbers ebb and flow, mostly to the beat of health related issues. They come from varied backgrounds of race, gender and economic status but all differences are blurred because they are all only concerned with singing and having fun. It is their driving force in life and that force spills off the screen in bucketfuls.

"Young @ Heart" is a seven week snapshot of them prepping for a local concert. We watch them struggle to learn the words and beats of songs they don't have a clue about. Sometimes they fail. Other times they nail it. All of the time, they move forward, even when they are confronted with their own mortality.

Bob Cilman is their director and has been for over 25 years. He is tough on them when need be but he also has the gentle touch when that is called for. Cilman is perhaps 50 and why or how he ended up with this vocation is never explained but it's not important. What is important is that he is doing this and he is bringing a reason not just to live, to many of the members of the troupe. He is bringing them pure joy in living even when it would be easy for some of them to withdraw from the outside world. It is apparent that they relish this new chance to shine, and for some, it is their first chance to shine.

There are so many scenes that stand out but one that must be mentioned is their performance at the local prison where hardcore criminals are reduced to tears of both happiness and sadness. The prisoners see their parents and grandparents in the performers, and after the show we witness the oddest group hug I have ever seen.

Stephen Walker directs and he keeps everything tight as a drum, interspersing rock video performances by the stars of the show. The Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" and David Bowie's "Golden Years" both take on new meaning and both produce infectious results that make you want to get up and dance.

We also learn a little bit about the stars' private lives. Some are doing great, others are struggling, but absolutely no one has an ounce of quit in them. When the concert the film has been building to ends, we share the feelings of accomplishment of all of the participants and we can only hope that our own later chapters can somehow approach what these people are experiencing.