Youth

Two friends while away the time reminiscing about their young days and their past loves and, fully aware of their age, they have no illusions about the future.

La giovinezza
Italy 2015
  • Czech
118 min.
Accessible
  • This film is available until 18. 5. 2024 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.
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About

Retired composer and conductor Fred is taking treatments at a luxury Swiss spa, watched over by his daughter. He’s there with his old friend Mick, a film director who, unlike Fred, doesn’t plan on giving up his career just yet. Both while away the time reminiscing about their young days and their past loves and, fully aware of their age, they have no illusions about the future. They observe the lives of dozens of colorful individuals whom they meet or simply glimpse passing by, and who compel them to reflect on youth and beauty. Here, Paolo Sorrentino once again stages a “choral theatre of life,” where the motley characters surrounding the central figures each have a fundamental role to play – not as part of the almost nonexistent story, but as one of the constituents of the filmmaker’s design. This latter is stunningly rendered via image and music and, instead of a sense of decline and finality, the impression is more one of hope, reinforced by a wonderful and strongly emotive ending. Sorrentino’s new film was considered one of the best works in Cannes competition but, like The Great Beauty, it failed to win a prize.

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Credits
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Screenplay: Paolo Sorrentino
Cinematography: Luca Bigazzi
Music: David Lang
Sound: Emanuele Cecere, Alessandro Checcacci
Editing: Cristiano Travaglioli
Production Design: Ludovica Ferrario
Producer: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima, Carlotta Calori
Co-production: Vivien Aslanian, Fabio Conversi, Elizabeth Karlsen, David Kosse, Romain Le Grand, Muriel Sauzay, Jérôme Seydoux, Anne Walser, Stephen Woolley
Costumes: Carlo Poggioli
Cast: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano, Jane Fonda, Tom Lipinski, Ed Stoppard, Madalina Diana Ghenea, Emilia Jones, Mark Kozelek
Awards

European Film Awards

2015 – Paolo Sorrentino (European Film)

European Film Awards

2015 – Paolo Sorrentino (European Director)

European Film Awards

2015 – Michael Caine (European Actor)

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

2015 – Paolo Sorrentino (Audience Award)

Links
  • This film is available until 18. 5. 2024 in these territories: Czechia, Slovakia.