# Youth

> 2015 film directed by Paolo Sorrentino

**Wikidata**: [Q18703892](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18703892)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_(2015_film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/youth

## Summary
Youth is a 2015 film directed by Paolo Sorrentino, an Italian film director and screenwriter known for his distinctive cinematic style. The film explores themes of aging, creativity, and friendship through the story of two elderly friends on vacation in the Swiss Alps.

## Key Facts
- Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino (Italian film director and screenwriter)
- Release year: 2015
- Genre: Drama film, comedy film, LGBTQ-related film
- Country of origin: Italy, France, United Kingdom, Switzerland
- Production company: Indigo Film
- Runtime: 118 minutes
- Budget: $12,300,000
- Box office: $24,000,000
- IMDb ID: tt3312830
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 72%
- Metacritic score: 64/100
- Awards received: European Film Award for Best Film, European Film Award for Best Director, Nastro d'Argento for Best New Director

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Youth?**
Youth follows two elderly friends, a retired composer and a film director, as they vacation at a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps, reflecting on their lives, careers, and mortality while observing the younger generation around them.

**Who stars in Youth?**
The film features an ensemble cast including Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano, and Jane Fonda in supporting roles.

**What awards did Youth win?**
Youth received the European Film Award for Best Film and Best Director, along with the Nastro d'Argento for Best New Director, recognizing Paolo Sorrentino's distinctive cinematic vision.

**Where was Youth filmed?**
The film was shot in various locations in Switzerland, particularly in the Swiss Alps region, capturing the luxurious hotel setting and stunning mountain landscapes.

**What themes does Youth explore?**
The film explores themes of aging, creativity, friendship, mortality, and the contrast between youth and old age, examining how people grapple with their past achievements and future legacy.

## Why It Matters
Youth matters as a significant work in contemporary European cinema that showcases Paolo Sorrentino's distinctive visual style and thematic preoccupations. The film represents a mature reflection on aging and creativity from one of Italy's most prominent contemporary directors, offering a nuanced exploration of how people confront their mortality and legacy. Its international production involving Italy, France, the UK, and Switzerland demonstrates the collaborative nature of modern European filmmaking, while its critical success helped solidify Sorrentino's reputation as a major international filmmaker. The film's examination of universal themes through the lens of privileged characters in a luxurious setting provides both aesthetic pleasure and philosophical depth, making it a notable contribution to the drama-comedy genre.

## Notable For
- Won the European Film Award for Best Film and Best Director
- Received the Nastro d'Argento for Best New Director
- Features an international ensemble cast including Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel
- Explores themes of aging and creativity through Sorrentino's distinctive visual style
- Represents a major international co-production between Italy, France, UK, and Switzerland
- Achieved commercial success with a $24 million box office against a $12.3 million budget
- Combines drama and comedy elements in examining universal themes of mortality and legacy

## Body
### Production and Development
Youth was produced by Indigo Film, an Italian production company known for supporting auteur cinema. The film represents a significant international co-production involving multiple countries including Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. With a budget of $12,300,000, the production achieved a box office return of $24,000,000, demonstrating both critical and commercial success. The film's runtime of 118 minutes allows for the contemplative pacing characteristic of Sorrentino's work.

### Creative Team
Paolo Sorrentino directed and wrote the screenplay for Youth, bringing his distinctive visual style and thematic interests to the project. Sorrentino, born on May 31, 1970, is an Italian film director and screenwriter affiliated with the University of Naples Federico II. His previous work includes the critically acclaimed "The Great Beauty" (2013), which won the Golden Globe Award for Best Non-English Language Film. Sorrentino's directorial approach in Youth continues his exploration of Italian society and culture through a unique aesthetic lens.

### Cast and Characters
The film features an international ensemble cast led by Michael Caine as Fred Ballinger, a retired composer, and Harvey Keitel as Mick Boyle, a film director. Rachel Weisz plays Lena Ballinger, Fred's daughter, while Paul Dano appears as Jimmy Tree, a young actor researching his next role. Jane Fonda makes a memorable appearance as Brenda Morel, a famous actress. The casting brings together established international stars with younger actors, reflecting the film's thematic exploration of different generations.

### Themes and Style
Youth explores universal themes of aging, creativity, friendship, and mortality through the story of two elderly friends vacationing in the Swiss Alps. Sorrentino's distinctive visual style is evident throughout, with carefully composed shots, surreal sequences, and a contemplative pacing that allows for philosophical reflection. The film examines how people confront their past achievements and future legacy while observing the younger generation around them. The Swiss Alps setting provides a luxurious backdrop that contrasts with the characters' internal struggles and reflections.

### Critical Reception
The film received positive critical reception, earning a 72% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 64/100 on Metacritic. Critics praised Sorrentino's visual style, the performances of the ensemble cast, and the film's thoughtful exploration of aging and creativity. The European Film Award for Best Film and Best Director, along with the Nastro d'Argento for Best New Director, recognized the film's artistic achievements and Sorrentino's distinctive directorial vision.

### International Impact
Youth represents the collaborative nature of contemporary European cinema, involving production companies and creative talent from multiple countries. The film's success helped further establish Sorrentino's international reputation and demonstrated the continued vitality of European art cinema in the global marketplace. Its exploration of universal themes through a distinctly European aesthetic contributed to ongoing conversations about aging, creativity, and cultural legacy in contemporary society.

### Technical Specifications
The film was released in 2015 with a runtime of 118 minutes. It is classified as a drama film, comedy film, and LGBTQ-related film, reflecting its genre-blending approach to storytelling. The production involved multiple countries, with Switzerland serving as the primary filming location for the luxurious hotel setting and Alpine landscapes. The film's technical execution supports Sorrentino's artistic vision through careful cinematography, production design, and musical scoring.

## References

1. [Filmdienst](http://www.filmdienst.de/nc/kinokritiken/einzelansicht/ewige-jugend,546596.html)
2. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3312830/fullcredits)
3. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
4. IMDb
5. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/2015.596.0.html)
6. Letterboxd
7. The Movie Database
8. Youth. Rotten Tomatoes
9. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmawards.eu/en_EN/film/youth.3711)
10. Unifrance
11. LUMIERE
12. BFI Film & TV Database
13. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3312830/releaseinfo)
14. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/169802/premierfilmek_forgalmi_adatai_2015.xlsx)
15. Google Knowledge Graph
16. motion picture credits
17. [Source](https://lequotidien.lu/culture/youth-un-film-drole-et-touchant-porte-par-un-duo-de-choc/)
18. [Source](https://www.sensacine.com/noticias/cine/noticia-18536927/)
19. [Source](https://www.sensacine.com/noticias/cine/noticia-18536927/?page=2)
20. [Source](http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/2015.598.0.html)
21. [Source](http://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/2015.597.0.html)
22. [Source](https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000203/2016/1/)
23. BBC Things
24. Kinopoisk
25. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=242541)
26. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/youth-la-giovinezza/)
27. Entertainment Identifier Registry
28. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
29. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2016&s_month=1&e_year=2016&e_month=1&pageID=1)
30. Online-Filmdatenbank
31. [Source](http://www.mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/cine/industria-cine/calificacion/calificacion-por-meses.html)
32. [Source](http://cnc.abt.ro/registru/index.aspx?pageID=3&filmID=15106)
33. [Source](http://www.rtc.gob.mx/NuevoSitio/cine_clasif_35mm.php?cd=326)
34. Bechdel Test Movie List
35. mymovies.it
36. Danish Film Database
37. Trakt.tv
38. FilmVandaag.nl