ANYBODY who thinks the Rolling Stones are old should check out the charming documentary “Young@Heart,” which features a group of rock performers whose average age is around 80.
Neither the premise nor the cutesy title – the chorus’ name – prepared me for how moving it is watch 93-year-old Eileen Hall (who has since died) sing lead on the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” before an appreciative prison audience.
The Massachusetts-based group is a longtime labor of love by middle-age Bob Cilman, who drives the seniors – whose musical tastes run to show tunes – to perform the likes of Sonic Youth’s “Schizophrenia.”
Sure, members of Young@Heart tend to ham it up for the camera – there are four videos in the flick you can check out on YouTube, including “Stayin’ Alive” and “I Wanna Be Sedated.” And British director Stephen Walker’s chirpy narration sometimes borders on the condescending.
But it’s truly inspiring to watch Fred Knittle, 81 and tethered to an oxygen tank, perform a riveting solo of Coldplay’s “Fix You” after his singing partner dies shortly before the show.
YOUNG@HEART
Rock of Aged.
Running time: 108 minutes. Rated PG (mild swearing). At the Lincoln Plaza and the Union Square.