Presenting a film that is funny, personable, emotional and refreshing is not always easy; however, Stephen Walker has done just that with his new film Young@Heart.
Starring the irresistible Young@Heart chorus, Walker takes you inside the lives of a group of senior citizens who love to sing. Performing hit songs from artists like Coldplay and The Clash, the Young@Heart chorus lives life day to day, enjoying every step along the way.
Going into Young@Heart, I had no idea what to expect. I knew there was going to be a lot of singing and maybe some interviews, but what I got was so much more.
Hearing the 'seniors' sing out as they each experience that high that one gets when performing on stage is an experience unlike any other. With smiles stretching from ear to ear, each member belts out notes they have rehearsed, singing as if there is no tomorrow. They look like pros up on the stage; yet somehow, you know that knots are resting at the bottom of their stomach, just waiting to rise to the surface and show themselves. But these guys know that any performance could be their last, and each night they must bring it!
But what you may not be able to notice on stage are the hardships, setbacks and emotional highs and lows that this group of men and women live with day in and day out. But luckily, Stephen Walker felt that that part was just as important as the singing. Taking you deep into the personal lives of select chorus members, Walker allows you to take a ride on the emotional roller coaster that is the life of the chorus members. From death to illness to miraculous recoveries, these men and women see it all, yet, for some reason, they still find the will to wake up every morning and see what life has in store for them. They still make time to laugh, cry and even joke with one another, cause what is a life without the sound of bliss?
And though the film's singing parts were amazing, I have to admit that adding the personal touch really sold it for me on so many levels. No longer are the performers just performers, instead they become human, people who experience life just like I do. They have troubles and they have successes, and regardless of what is going on, each of them look at music as a way out ... a way to free the mind and body. They sing because it makes them happy, not because they have to, and at the end of the day, they know that those standing around them are family.
But it wasn't just the inner thought and newly discovered revelations that made this film. It was really a combination of the chorus and the background stories that really put the film over the top. Telling only one side the story would have left the story as too standard, too conventional and too bland. Instead, we are greeted with a true, mesmerizing story that carries a strong message, one that anyone can relate to.
What is the message? You'll have to see the film to figure that one out!
