Palm Beach Film Festival Closes Tonight

YOUNG@HEART

Thursday, April 17-----The 13th edition of the Palm Beach International Film Festival ends tonight with its Gala Closing Night Film and its Awards Ceremonies. After presenting over 100 films from around the world, as well as in-depth seminars, gala tributes and some of the most fun parties on the festival circuit, the Festival calls it a wrap tonight.

The Festival ends on a musical high note, with the presentation of UK director Stephen Walker's audience-pleasing hit, YOUNG @ HEART. The documentary features an inspiring chorus made up of senior citizens from New England who have delighted audiences worldwide with their covers of songs by everyone from The Clash to Coldplay.

As the film begins, the retirees, led by their demanding musical director, are rehearsing their new show, struggling with Sonic Youth’s dissonant rock anthem, “Schizophrenia” and giving new meaning to James Brown’s “I Feel Good.” What ultimately emerges is a funny and unexpectedly moving testament to friendship, creative inspiration and defying expectations.

The film had its premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival last June, and has become a festival circuit hit around the world. It has begun its theatrical run this past week via Fox Searchlight Pictures (the company behind this year's indie smash JUNO), receiving glowing reviews.

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times has called the film "a heady tonic for those folks to take on these unlikely lyrics as it is for us to watch it all go down." Stephen Holden in the New York Times stated that the film "offers an encouraging vision of old age in which the depression commonly associated with decrepitude is held at bay by music making, camaraderie and a sense of humor." And Claudia Puig of USA Today gave the film 3 1/2 stars in her review, calling the film "a heartening and poignant affirmation of the transformative power of music."

Sandy Mandelberger, Palm Beach FF Dailies Editor