-----> Tucked away in a meeting room on the second floor of the Orleans, the new Las Vegas International Film Festival (sharing only a name with the festival that competed with CineVegas in 1998 and 1999) seemed like it would be sparsely attended. But when I showed up this past Saturday afternoon at 3:30 for a screening of Off the Rocker, the festival’s “Best of Nevada Feature,” I could barely find a seat. The small room was packed with local senior citizens, the subjects of this documentary from LA-based filmmaker Matthew Bardocz.
Despite its award designation, the movie was not quite feature-length at 48 minutes, but it was a light, entertaining look at the positive side of senior life, focusing on social events, romance and active living. Most of the stars were in the audience, along with what looked like their entire social circle.
After Rocker ended, at least three-quarters of the crowd departed, but about 20 seniors stuck around for the next two films, mediocre shorts from out of town (and maybe longer; that was when I left). The makeshift setting wasn’t ideal, but at least the over-70 crowd seemed to be having a good time.