Marching On

Marching On

New Zealand 2009 / 28min.
Director/Producer Charlie Gates, Justin Heaney.

Joan Prenderville is no ordinary 76-year-old. Under her curler-set, greying hair, and the creases in her skin, lies a woman dedicated to marching and dancing. Joan is one of thousands of women who marched in their youth, but refuses to say goodbye to their passion as they grow old. When not leading a team of formation marchers, Joan is tap dancing, cane twirling and Irish jigging for entertainment group “Nan’s Grans” at rest homes and working men’s clubs.

But can Joan overcome her nerves and get her elderly crew into shape when she has to compete with fitter and faster teams on leisure marching’s Big Day Out? Joan has found a way to keep her twilight years bright with friendship, laughter and complex marching routines.

She thrives, struggles and keeps marching on.

Documentary Edge Festival 2010 | New Zealand Competition Finalist
World Premiere