A dance class for seniors in Catalonia decides to create an extraordinary show for the 93-year-old mother of their Paris-born dance teacher. Their journey to France to perform for her turns into a life-affirming, inspirational voyage of discovery.

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Review by Julie C. Sheppard:

DANCE: Generations is a heartfelt documentary which underscores the importance of living one’s dreams as a senior, when much of society focuses its energy and glory on the younger generation. Seeing seniors join in as dance performers, despite physical challenges that age often brings, is inspiring. The film does a superb job of letting the viewer hear about the excitement and stimulation that participation in dance provides for these people, with many intimate interviews.

The piece makes use of a variety of thoughtful filmic conventions, such as multi-split screens to show all dancers currently, as young adults and as children. This is highly effective given the other topic that the film addresses – – a historical investigation of refugee children during tumultuous times under Franco in the late 1930’s. Dance is not the only thing that these participants get to experience. Their group dance trip to France allows them to consider the dark history of the war and unearth some long-hidden family information.

Serious historical travesty aside, the overarching environment of the film is one of invigoration and joy, as the camera captures the various dance numbers beautifully. The attractive sparkly costumes, lively choreography, and catchy musical numbers, both locally and internationally famous, are thrilling to watch, the dancers giving their all in entertaining unison. The various narrators ground the film, almost as if a travelogue, and round it off as a well-considered look at this inspiring group of seniors.