Italy, France, UK, Switzerland, 2015, 118’
directed by: Paolo Sorrentino
written by: Paolo Sorrentino
cast: Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano, Jane Fonda
cinematography: Luca Bigazzi
edited by: Cristiano Travaglioli
producers: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima, Carlotta Calori
production: Indigo Film, Medusa Film
Cannes FF 2015; Karlovy Vary IFF 2015 – Audience Award; Toronto IFF 2015
In this charming film by the Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorentino (The Great Beauty), two old friends ponder about the past, present, beauty and absurdity of life. Fred and Mick, who are nearing their eighties, are enjoying their stay in a cozy hotel underneath Swiss Alps. Fred is a retired composer and conductor and has no intention to revive the music career he has quit long ago. Mick, on the other hand, is a busy director who is about to finish the script for his new film. They both know their days are numbered so they decide to face the future together. However, unlike them, other people do not seem to be bothered with the passage of time. Youth is Sorrentino's second film in English language, putting together an impressive cast: Michael Caine as Fred, Harvey Keitel as Mick and Rachel Weisz as Fred's daughter married to Mick's son.
Paolo Sorrentino was born in 1970, Naples. His works have regularly competed at Cannes since his film The Consequences of Love. His film Il Divo won the Jury Prize at Cannes. This Must Be the Place, starring Sean Penn, is his first English-language film, after which he made The Great Beauty, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Youth premiered at Cannes.