Rock of Agesby Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger 14 Apr 2008 10:27 AM Ah, apparently you are never too old to rock. Imagine a 92 year old war bride (that is World War II!) singing The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go." Or, how about a 78-year-old man grooving out to James Brown's "I Feel Good." If you are having a hard time conjuring up this picture, fear not - there is a new documentary called Young at Heart that will show you the senior rockers that have been rocking out for some 25 years. The group hails from Northampton, Massachusetts, a small town of 30,000 people. Called the Young@Heart chorus, they were started 25 years ago by Bob Cilman. All the members are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. And, some of them aren't even crazy about what they are singing, preferring classical music or show tunes. Some have family and some are alone. But, Cilman brings them together to form a bond that shines through in their performances. Their zest for life and positive attitudes cannot be missed. The documentary, made by British filmmaker Stephen Walker, all started when Walker saw the group in London in 2005. When he saw them, he said he was "was totally blown away. It was an amazing way to look at this song afresh. It becomes a song about love and death and not about relationships." It is said that the film is both comedic and moving, touching on topics such as friendship, old age, and even death. Young at Heart was a favorite of the audiences at both the Los Angeles and Sundance film festivals. The film will open in the U.S. this week, and then it will be distributed in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, and Australia. Walker thinks the movie is successful in part because society is tired of the "youth-obsessed and celebrity culture." Cilman agrees, saying that society does not necessarily want the youth culture, but is spoon-fed it. If you get a chance, you might want to check out this little documentary. God willing, we should all be able to have such a positive attitude as we age. If you cannot catch the film, check out their web page. You can pick up their CD titled "Mostly Alive." Learn more about Libby Pelham  Libby Pelham is a work-at-home mom located in Jacksonville, NC. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004. Relevantpopular culture tags User Comments  Dale Harcombe |
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