Youth – La Giovinezza

Italy, France, UK, Switzerland

Synopsis

Springtime. Fred and Mick, two old friends now approaching eighty, are on vacation together in an elegant hotel at the foot of the Alps.
Fred, a composer and conductor, is now retired. Mick, a film director, is still working.
The two friends know that their time is quickly running out, and they decide to face their future together.
They look with curiosity and tenderness on their children’s confused lives, Mick’s enthusiastic young writers, and the other hotel guests, all of whom, it seems, have all the time that they lack.
And while Mick scrambles to finish the screenplay for what he imagines will be his last important film, Fred, who gave up his musical career long ago, has no intention of returning to it.
But someone wants at all costs to hear his compositions and to see him conduct again.

Director's Biography

Paolo Sorrentino, director and screenwriter, was born in Naples in 1970. In 2001 he made his first feature film, ONE MAN UP (L’uomo in più), with Toni Servillo and Andrea Renzi. The film, selected for the Venice FF, was nominated for three David di Donatellos, and won a Silver Ribbon for best new director as well as two Golden Goblets.
In 2004 he completed his second film THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOVE (Le conseguenze dell’amore). Shown in competition at the Cannes FF, the film won numerous awards including five David di Donatellos, four Silver Ribbons and five Ciak d’Oro. In 2006 he made his third film THE FAMILY FRIEND (L’amico di famiglia) which, after competing at the Cannes FF, was shown in numerous international festivals.
In 2008 with IL DIVO, starring Toni Servillo, Sorrentino competed at the Cannes FF for the third time and won the
Jury Prize. The film went on to win seven David di Donatellos, five Ciak d’Oro, five Silver Ribbons and an Oscar nomination for best make-up. In 2010 Feltrinelli published his first novel “Hanno tutti ragione”, which was well received by readers and critics alike, and made the short list for the Strega Prize.
In 2011 THIS MUST BE THE PLACE was Sorrentino’s first film in English. Starring Sean Penn and Frances McDormand, the film was in competition at the 64th Cannes FF. It won numerous awards including six David di Donatellos, three Silver Ribbons and four Ciak d’Oro. In 2012 Feltrinelli published his second book “Tony Pagoda e i suoi amici”. In 2013 THE GREAT BEAUTY (La grande bellezza), starring Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone and Sabrina Ferilli, saw Sorrentino compete for the fifth time at the Cannes IFF. The film went on to win many awards including an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, and a BAFTA, as well as five important EFA awards including European Film, Director and Actor.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino

Written by: Paolo Sorrentino

Produced by: Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima, Carlotta Calori

Cinematography: Luca Bigazzi

Editing: Cristiano Travaglioli

Production Design: Ludovica Ferrario

Costume Design: Carlo Poggioli

Original Score: David Lang

Sound Design: Silvia Moraes

Cast: Rachel Weisz (Lena), Paul Dano (Jimmy Tree), Jane Fonda (Brenda Morel), Sir Michael Caine (Fred Ballinger), Harvey Keitel (Mick Boyle)

Nominations and Awards

  • European Director 2015
  • European Actor 2015
  • European Film 2015
  • European Actress 2015
  • European Screenwriter 2015
  • Feature Film Selection 2015