Forever Young

Alexa's career as a singer just won't get off the ground. So the divorced woman in her mid-fifties takes on an unusual job out of (financial) necessity: Alexa (Mathilde Seigner) is commissioned by the city council to rehearse children's songs with her mature protégés as the leader of a choir of pensioners. But the supposedly compliant “best agers” on the verge of infantilization turn out to be a very agile troupe of senior citizens who not only have a mind of their own, but also a shared dream: To finally perform veritable rock songs on stage - not only with a firm voice, but also with the right attitude! The classic underdog story of a group of beginners venturing into unknown territory has been beautifully transposed into the senior music biz by directing duo Luc Bricault and Ida Techer. They have taken the formation of the real-life pensioner rock band “Salt and Pepper” (alluding to the age-appropriate peppery-salty hair) as their model. Instead of Wildecker Herzbuben and Peter Alexander, “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash and “We Will Rock You” by Queen are on the program. “We're just as old as Mick Jagger,” replies one of the singers when the group faces a headwind. These silverbacks, sorry “silver rockers”, blow back hard so as not to “fall prey to dust”. Until it resounds from everywhere: you're never too old for rebellion and rock'n'roll! “With its English comedy feel, given by scenes in a pub or on the ferry and by some truly touching parallel plots, the feature film pays a fine tribute to these singing grannies and grandpas. Even if the script is a little déjà-vu and some of the twists and turns are a little implausible, “Chœur de rockers” works thanks to its fast pace: it's a pleasure to follow this unlikely troupe as they take on a challenge that's not exactly a foregone conclusion in record time. Most of all, we laugh at these reckless, flirtatious, undignified and rebellious pensioners, who compete in bad faith and energy. (Catherine Balle, in: Le Parisien)