As I am fortunate enough to be down here in Champaign for the summer, I’ve marked up a list of many goals that I’d like to accomplish down here. Working on my blank resume (got to start somewhere right?), learn how to write good songs that don’t only sound good to me, and discovering all of the unique places this campus is home to. Well, this past Monday I stumbled upon a place that will from now on be a frequent host for my viewing habits: Boardman’s Art Theater. This movie theater, that I’m sure many people have heard of, offered two things that will keep me coming back for more: great independent movies and the feeling that I’m in the episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark when the vampire comes out of the screen (it’s creepy in a good way).
So the first independent movie that I had the utmost pleasure of viewing at the Boardman’s Art Theater was called Young @ Heart. The film follows a chorus of senior citizens, with an average age of 80, as they practice for their upcoming tour in Europe. This would seem to be a pretty bland premise if it weren’t for the fact that the songs they were singing were made up of their own versions of popular rock songs. From the utterly weird tune by the Sonic Youth called “Schizophrenia” to the body-shakin’ James Brown song “I Got You (I Feel Good)”, we get to see the grandmas and grandpas stumble their way through the lyrics with as much enthusiasm as a little kid.
The choir is so fun to watch due to their innocence and individual personalities. Though it is easy to giggle at the old people trying to be young again, there are parts in the movie that show that trying to be youthful just doesn’t always fit with the reality of things. Yet, when bad things arise, the choir only has optimism for what they’re doing and truly entertain with their renditions of the music.
This film is one that I’ll be able to recommend to anyone, young or old. The film’s theme of holding on to your youth is one that will ring true with anyone. Now that we’re in college, we act as if we’re invincible and that we can do whatever we feel like without feeling the consequences. But the truth is, that we are becoming the adults that we will be for the rest of our lives, and we must hold on to our young spirit forever. This film is a good inspiration to not just do things in your late age, but also to do anything that you’ve ever wanted to do today, and put all that you can into it. I can say that it has definitely inspired me to write a blog recommending it and other lesser known movies that maybe make you think a little bit more than a regular mainstream movie. I hope you enjoy what I find and enjoy going to the indie movies!
Landon Cassman: Through boredom and pure enjoyment I find myself always involved in either film or music related endeavors. This is one of them.
Comments
lcassma2 (lcassma2) says:
(Posted June 13th, 2008 at 10:38 pm)
I definitely agree with you on that one. I guess I was just trying to say they had no inhibitions about who they were and weren’t trying to be something they weren’t. They just are who they are.
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Landon Cassman
Through boredom and pure enjoyment I find myself always involved in either film or music related endeavors. This is one of them.
Jeff Brandt (Jeff Brandt) says:
(Posted June 12th, 2008 at 6:17 pm)
I wouldn’t call them “innocent.” What about the guy who you see showering who talked about how he had sex with someone in the chorus? And the British lady (wearing a red shirt in your photo) joking about how she was excited to have men in her room (the film crew). I thought what made it interesting is how unlike the stereotype of innocent, braindead old people they were.