Today I saw Please Give, starring Catherine Keener and Rebecca Hall.
If you're not prepared to view life as it is sometimes lived, you probably want to stay away from Nicole Holofcener films such as this. I, for one, happen to love the fact that this writer/director creates characters who feel like real, breathing human beings, but I can see how they may depress others.
The subjects of this indie are neighbors. Kate (Keener) and Alex (Oliver Platt) are a married couple who own a vintage furniture business as they raise their only child, teenage Abby (Sarah Steele). Next door is 91-year-old Andra (Ann Morgan Guilbert), a miserable aging coot who is looked upon by her granddaughters. Rebecca (Hall) is the responsible, patient radiologist that acts compassionately no matter how badly her grandmother treats her; Mary (Amanda Peet) is the sexy, shallow spa worker who only visits Andra when forced.
Kate has a habit of giving money to strangers because she feels so guilty about her business. She and Alex aren't involved in any illegal activity, but they have been known to take advantage of families of the recently deceased who have valuable furniture and don't realize its worth.
Everyone in this film is searching for something: Abby desires the perfect jeans to offset her battle with acne; Kate wants a charitable cause to fill the hole in her heart; Alex seeks the excitement missing from his marriage; Rebecca would like a boyfriend; Mary wants answers as to why a muscle-heavy saleslady stole her man; Grandma wants her shopping granddaughters to use her carefully clipped coupons. Please, give.
The lives of these neighbors are intertwined as they offer the odd olive branch, but of course not everything works out for the best. As in reality, there are lies, deceptions, awkward silences and guilty consciences as a result of the bad decisions they make.
What I liked about this film (and its entire stellar cast) was that none of the characters were people who were difficult to relate to. Even those making choices we hope we wouldn't make didn't seem like horrible people—they were just wounded.
There's something life-affirming about watching people struggle and then advance past whatever is troubling them. Please Give reminds us that life isn't simple for anyone.
~~~
Showing posts with label senior citizens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label senior citizens. Show all posts
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Young at Heart
Tonight I saw the documentary Young at Heart, directed by Stephen Walker.
What a refreshing change from the slew of war films permeating the industry!
In Northampton, Mass., there lives a spirited chorus called Young at Heart. This chorus is made up of 'mature' singers (average age: 80) who come together to practice, perform and tour throughout the year. And quite frankly, they rock.
Seriously.
They're not singing Gershwin classics or busting out ancient showtunes, they're singing Sprinsgteen and Sonic Youth—and they're pulling it off.
The story follows the group from the point that they begin learning their new lineup of songs to their first performance of the set. Like any group, they have a nervous leader who pushes them and loses his patience with their pace from time to time, but they seem to enjoy it all nonetheless.
As the filmmaker follows various singers home, we get a glimpse of what these individuals were probably like in their prime: spunky, daring, full of life. Kind of like now.
Watching them enjoy the process and the friends they make along the way is truly a pleasure and hearing them interpret modern music for the first time is somewhat hilarious.
Of course, since they're old, there are members of the chorus with health problems. The only hard part of watching the film is seeing those few struggle with their ailments. But overall, what could be terribly depressing is just a minor pause along the way of this fun, inspiring film.
Although the Sinéad and Coldplay sections made me sob, the rest of the movie had me smiling throughout. And as someone who felt her life sort of ended when she turned 30, I do feel slightly ashamed.
If these folks can get out of bed and to choir practice 3 days a week, then take their show on the road, what the hell do I have to complain about?
Only that there aren't more films like this one.
Note: to purchase Young at Heart merchandise, visit the chorus's official Web site at youngatheartchorus.com.
What a refreshing change from the slew of war films permeating the industry!
In Northampton, Mass., there lives a spirited chorus called Young at Heart. This chorus is made up of 'mature' singers (average age: 80) who come together to practice, perform and tour throughout the year. And quite frankly, they rock.
Seriously.
They're not singing Gershwin classics or busting out ancient showtunes, they're singing Sprinsgteen and Sonic Youth—and they're pulling it off.
The story follows the group from the point that they begin learning their new lineup of songs to their first performance of the set. Like any group, they have a nervous leader who pushes them and loses his patience with their pace from time to time, but they seem to enjoy it all nonetheless.
As the filmmaker follows various singers home, we get a glimpse of what these individuals were probably like in their prime: spunky, daring, full of life. Kind of like now.
Watching them enjoy the process and the friends they make along the way is truly a pleasure and hearing them interpret modern music for the first time is somewhat hilarious.
Of course, since they're old, there are members of the chorus with health problems. The only hard part of watching the film is seeing those few struggle with their ailments. But overall, what could be terribly depressing is just a minor pause along the way of this fun, inspiring film.
Although the Sinéad and Coldplay sections made me sob, the rest of the movie had me smiling throughout. And as someone who felt her life sort of ended when she turned 30, I do feel slightly ashamed.
If these folks can get out of bed and to choir practice 3 days a week, then take their show on the road, what the hell do I have to complain about?
Only that there aren't more films like this one.
Note: to purchase Young at Heart merchandise, visit the chorus's official Web site at youngatheartchorus.com.
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