The theater is packed. The choir members are all dressed in white button-up shirts. The director sets and readies the choir. A 92 year old Eileen, with her cane, slowly comes up to the microphone and with her raspy, conversational toned voice states, “Darling, you got to let me know/should I stay?/or should I go?” you’ll burst out laughing. Whether it’s the wackiness of hearing a very old lady start a concert out with one of the Clash’s best songs or if its just the fact that it is the funniest moment you’ve seen all year, something within ourselves makes us just laugh.

Director Stephan Walker’s documentary will make you do just that.

He explores this group of elderly members who volunteer to join the Young@Heart group, their love for music, their personalities, and their drive to be the best. It is one of those documentaries that on paper seems boring or a subject mater that is uninteresting, but in truth, it is one of 2008’s best films, full of live and inspiration.

Essentially we follow this group as they have about 8 weeks to learn a handful of new songs for a huge concert they are putting on and an impending European tour. Again these are about a dozen elderly men and women, whose average age is 80. Stuff like The Ramones, Coldplay, and Sonic Youth are alien to them as much as Cd players. But their game. It’s not really the songs that scare them as much as it’s remembering the lyrics, but when it comes down to it, they’ll learn.

The film is filled with many powerful moments, perhaps none more powerful than a performance at a prison for the inmates, weeks prior to their huge concert, and moments after they learned one of their own has passed. They come out of the bus, sad and reflective and yet when they start the concert they bring these criminals and thugs to laughter, tears, and inspiration. It’s a powerful moment.

Walker does have some with them and the documentary as periodically he stages these really clever and fun music videos for Bee Gee’s “Staying Alive” (which adds a deep, more penetrating meaning) and a more fun, almost spoofing their selves in The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated”. They’re clever and lively and a good momentary break from some of the film’s heavier and dustier moments.

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of the film is the audience’s knowledge as well as the elderly that they are so close to the end so to speak. As middle aged people claim to be tied, lazy, and sore, here our people double their age, knowing any day they could die and yet, living life to the fullest. Everyone will pick up something from this film; it’s very emotional at times but a lot of fun. It’s so inspirational and yet, never preachy. For these people and us, life is longer than we think-enjoy every minute.