Go Grandriders (2012)

Dreams are meant to be fulfilled!

Rebelling against loved ones and age itself, a group of 17 elderly motorcycle riders (average age 81) banded together to drive the 1178km / 732 miles around the outer edge of Taiwan in thirteen days. Short on sentiment but long on spirit, Go Grandriders was an engaging documentary of fulfilling one's dreams.

The Grandriders included retired military, civil servants, policemen, a pastor, and a housewife (who had to pass her driver's exam to join). They were all in average shape for octogenarians with a fair percentage suffering from hypertension, diabetes, or cancer. They all had their own reasons for taking the trek, most often boiling down to---if not now...when? Despite family members and loved ones trying to dissuade them, they stayed the course to show that just because they were old didn't mean they wanted a life without something to do and look forward to and those things were worth the risk.

The Hongdad Senior Citizens Welfare Foundation provided resources for the trip, including a bus for riders to rest on when they needed to, medical assistance and providing places to stay along the way. As the director said, in our 20's and 30's people are marrying and raising families. When people finally have time to do the things they want they are told not to leaving many elderly alone and lacking purpose. The documentary showed how people find that life isn't much fun being left alone without something to look forward to and this trip was the spark and rejuvenator some needed.

Taiwan's roads provided challenging situations with dangerous traffic, falling rocks and washed out roads from a previous typhoon. Police escorts joined them on various legs of the journey to give a measure of safety.

Grandriders didn't delve into sentimentality when allowing the men and woman of the trip to talk about their lives and reasons for undertaking the difficult journey. Men on different sides of different wars shared a moment of peace and unity as soldiers. A kamikaze trainer's tale of training young men to die was particularly moving as was a husband's story of taking his wife for "one more ride, honey" with her picture on his handlebars.

The shots of riders on harrowing roads could become monotonous, broken up by shots of sunsets on the water or mountains. Trips to nursing homes with the bikers sharing cheer with the residents or children on the sides of the road cheering them on were heartwarming.

Go Grandriders could have benefited from a more deft hand with the photography and traveling shots so that we could experience the ride along with them more. The heart of the of the story though came from the courageous and adventurous senior citizens reminding us that they were still capable and energetic and that one's dreams give us motivation and reason for living at any age.





8/4/22

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