This Weekend’s Film Festival – Young at Heart Again

Back in May when UP arrived in theaters, This Weekend's Film Festival celebrated with a look at films featuring young at heart characters. Now with UP on DVD and Blu-ray, TWFF is revisiting the theme once again. Besides the balloon-filled adventures of Carl Fredricksen, we have a story of a woman where aging is a detriment to her profession. We have a story of a recent retiree who finds that his golden years aren't turning out like he thought they'd would. We have a story of veteran performers who over the years have learned to hate each other. And to close, we have a story about an old man and his dog.

UP's Carl Fredricksen is a man who has shut off life since his wife died. Their home is like a museum to her. When he's about to loose it, he decides to go on the adventure that he and Ellie, his wife, had always planned on doing. He attaches thousands of balloons to his house and sets sail for Paradise Falls in South America. But what he didn't realize was that he had a stowaway named Russell, a young wilderness explorer. The relationship between the unlikely pair brings life back into Carl. Director Pete Docter and co-director Bob Peterson capture the idea that our relationships are our lives' real adventures. Like the antagonist Muntz, his former adventurer hero, Carl is locked in the past. Through his friendships with the hyperactive father-figure-seeking Russell and the unconditionally loving dog Dug, he is able to let the past float away. As I said in my original review, "On his fantastic journey, Carl learns what’s most important about this adventure called life. Paradise might not be solely located in South America."

In Stephen Frears' CHERI, the courtesan Lea de Lonval, played gloriously by Michelle Pfeiffer, is approaching 50 when she takes on a new young ward named Cheri (Rupert Friend), the son of former courtesan Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates). His mother wants Lea to teach her philandering son how to be a man and he is more than obliged to live the high life with the woman he has desired since he started desiring women. However, what Lea didn't expect was that she'd be with Cheri after six years and that she'd fall in love. Now at the age of 55, the 24 years difference between her and her young lover seems vast. To quote my original review, "When she’s with Cheri, she is full of life. A young lover has a way of staying off thoughts of one’s mortality." Aging is less fair on women. For Lea, she has gained wisdom and grace along with those wrinkles. But at her age, a broken heart is even harder to heal.

For Warren Schmidt, aging means that he's not needed anymore. Alexander Payne's ABOUT SCHMIDT follows a 66-year-old man who is set in his ways and isn't ready for retirement, especially when it throws him a curveball. To discover himself, Warren heads out on the road for the wedding of his daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis), who is marrying the mullet-sporting pyramid schemer Randall (Dermot Mulroney). But is Warren trying to find himself, I don't think he really cares to, he's just has nothing better to do. Jack Nicholson, in one of his finest performances, sheds his persona and plays Warren as an insecure, sad and lonely man. Like Carl Fredricksen, Warren must learn that aging and change need to go hand in hand. But unlike Carl, Warren doesn't connect to a young boy he can share ice cream with, but he does confide in his African foster child, Ndugu. As I commented in my original review, "I loved the many cause-and-effect moments that happen throughout the film, which bring light to opinions that Warren thought earlier. He judges others, but forgives when he finally is able to turn his gaze back on himself." It's a good lesson for any point in your life, because it will make the golden years more peaceful.

Herbert Ross's THE SUNSHINE BOYS, based on Neil Simon's play, is about the tumultuous partnership between two aging vaudeville performers. Willy Clark, played in an Oscar-nominated performance from Walter Matthau, can't get work anymore because he can't remember lines. But that doesn't stop his nephew Ben (Richard Benjamin) from trying his hardest. Then a lucky break, there will be a TV special on the history of comedy and they want Willy to team back up with his old partner Al Lewis, played in an Oscar-winning performance from George Burns. Willy hasn't spoken to Al in 11 years and doesn't plan to. Al has grown old gracefully and doesn't hold grudges. Willy is the exact opposite. His need to be in the spotlight has tainted everything in his life; he can't let go. As I said in my original review, "We want Willy to get a chance to revive his glory days, but we fear that he will get in his own way." In the end Simon's story finds an irony conclusion that brings the characters full circle. Aging is a part of life — you can either be angry about it like Willy or take it in stride like Al.

Vittorio De Sica's UMBERTO D. is one of the greatest films ever made on aging. As I said in my original review, "By not beating his themes over our heads, De Sica is able to accomplish much more. The simple story seems to tackle grand issues such as the loneliness of aging, what will we do to survive and the reason for living in general. If De Sica tried to play up these grand issues, we’d laugh at the film’s pretentiousness and snicker at its sappiness." Umberto Domenico Ferrari, played in a wonderful single film performance by Glottology professor Carlo Battisti, is a pensioner who can't pay his rent. His landlady will throw him out if he doesn't pay by the end of the month. His best friend is his dog Flike, who he can't afford to take care of anymore. His neighbor, the young pregnant maid Maria (Maria-Pia Casilio) is his only human friend, but she can only help him so much. This neo-realism masterpiece quietly and powerfully captures the sadness of aging, but also the life energizing power of friendships, even if that friend isn't human.

To join this adventure called life simply head to the videostore, update the Netflix queue, check out HelloMovies.com for streaming sites, visit Zap2It.com for TV listings, or help support the site by purchasing the films on DVD or Blu-ray at the links below.