Youth (2015 film)

Youth
Industry	Film
Founded	2015
Founder	Paolo Sorrentino
Headquarters	Italy / United Kingdom / France / Switzerland
Products	Feature film

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Youth (2015 film), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 2025

Youth is a 2015 comedy-drama motion picture crafted and helmed by Paolo Sorrentino. The film features Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel portraying lifelong friends who contemplate their existence during a retreat in the Swiss Alps. Its storyline delves into contrasts such as aging versus youthfulness, the past against the future, life alongside death, and loyalty in opposition to betrayal. The ensemble cast also includes Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano, and Jane Fonda.

Debuting at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, the movie vied for the prestigious Palme d'Or and garnered widespread critical praise. At the 28th European Film Awards, Youth secured honors for Best Film, Best Director awarded to Sorrentino, and Best Actor awarded to Caine. Additionally, it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song with David Lang's "Simple Song #3". Lang was also nominated for a Golden Globe, alongside Jane Fonda for Best Supporting Actress.

Plot

Fred Ballinger and Mick Boyle, two septuagenarian close friends, spend their vacation at an upscale spa located in Flims, nestled within the Swiss Alps. Fred, a retired composer of classical music, is approached by a representative of Queen Elizabeth II with an offer of knighthood and an invitation to perform his renowned "Simple Song #3" at a concert celebrating Prince Philip's birthday. Fred declines, citing a lack of interest in public performance despite continuing to compose privately. Mick, a filmmaker, is working on a screenplay he describes as his "testament," collaborating with several writers. Actor Jimmy Tree is also staying at the hotel while preparing for a role and expressing frustration over being typecast as a robot. Other eccentric guests populate the resort as well.

The two friends engage in reflections on fading memories and uncertain prospects ahead. Fred’s daughter Lena—who is married to Mick’s son but faces marital strain as he leaves her for pop artist Paloma Faith—remains at the hotel confronting her emotionally distant father. When the Queen’s emissary returns, Fred explains his refusal to perform stems from the soprano part being intended solely for his wife, who is no longer able to sing.

Mick finishes his screenplay featuring the lead role designed for Brenda Morel, an aging star who has appeared in eleven of his films. Brenda unexpectedly arrives at the resort and reveals she has accepted a television role instead, dismissing cinema as obsolete and criticizing Mick’s recent projects. Devastated by this rejection, Mick takes his own life by leaping from a balcony shortly before Fred’s departure. Fred then visits his wife—who suffers from dementia—in a care home in Venice before returning to England to conduct "Simple Song #3" before the Queen and Prince.

The film incorporates surreal moments including a levitating monk, an imagined music video starring Paloma Faith, Jimmy dressed as Adolf Hitler, Fred conducting cowbells in an open field, and Mick envisioning former leading ladies atop a mountain—among them Brenda in her new television role.

Cast

Michael Caine as Fred Ballinger
Harvey Keitel as Mick Boyle
Rachel Weisz as Lena Ballinger
Paul Dano as Jimmy Tree
Jane Fonda as Brenda Morel
Roly Serrano as Diego Armando Maradona
Alex Macqueen as Queen's emissary
Ian Keir Attard as Queen's emissary assistant
Luna Mijović as Young masseuse
Robert Seethaler as Luca Moroder
Tom Lipinski as Screenwriter in Love
Chloe Pirrie as Girl screenwriter
Alex Beckett as Intellectual screenwriter
Nate Dern as Funny screenwriter
Mark Gessner as Shy screenwriter
Ed Stoppard as Julian Boyle
Paloma Faith as herself
Mark Kozelek as himself
Mădălina Diana Ghenea as Miss Universe Joyce Owens
Sumi Jo as herself
Viktoria Mullova as herself

Production

Youth marks Sorrentino's second film crafted in English, following his Academy Award-winning The Great Beauty (2013). Filming commenced in May 2014 in Flims, Switzerland, with the majority of scenes shot at the Waldhaus Flims, a luxurious 19th-century five-star hotel that accommodated the entire cast and crew. Additional footage was captured in Davos, notably at Hotel Schatzalp—famous as the backdrop for Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain—as well as on location in Rome and Venice.

The director collaborated once again with his frequent cinematographer Luca Bigazzi. The musical score was composed by David Lang, who also created "Simple Song #3," performed within the story for Queen Elizabeth during the finale. This concluding scene featured soprano Sumi Jo, violinist Viktoria Mullova, alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Berlin Radio Choir.

For his portrayal of a conductor, Michael Caine received coaching from Italian composer and conductor Dimitri Scarlato.

Release

Youth had its debut at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it contended for the prestigious Palme d'Or and was released simultaneously in Italy. It was also showcased in the Special Presentations category at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The film's U.S. distribution was handled by Fox Searchlight, premiering on 4 December 2015 through a limited release, while its UK release occurred on 29 January 2016 via StudioCanal. Globally, the film amassed a total box office revenue of $24,035,045.

Critical reception

The film Youth garnered mostly favorable critiques. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 72% approval rating based on 212 reviews, averaging a score of 7 out of 10. The critical consensus describes it as "visually stunning and superbly acted," highlighting the talents of its veteran cast. On Metacritic, it achieved a weighted average score of 64 out of 100 from 41 critics, reflecting "generally favorable reviews."

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times characterized Youth as "quixotic, idiosyncratic, and effortlessly moving," viewing it as a cinematic reflection on life's intricacies. Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter lauded it as "a feast for the senses," emphasizing exceptional performances by Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel. Jay Weissberg of Variety referred to it as Sorrentino's "most tender work yet," praising its emotional depth and contemplative nature.

Conversely, some critics offered more tempered opinions: Robbie Collin of The Telegraph described the film as "visually beautiful but emotionally distant," suggesting it failed to fully capture its central theme. Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian acknowledged its "faint eloquence and elegance" but criticized its sentimental tone and unconvincing portrayal of regret.

Home media

In the United States, Youth became available on DVD and Blu-ray starting 1 March 2016.

Soundtrack

Released by Milan Records in December 2015, the soundtrack for Youth includes songs such as "You Got The Love" by The Retrosettes, along with David Lang's compositions "Simple Song #3" and "Just (After Song of Songs)."

Accolades

Award	Category	Honoree	Outcome
88th Academy Awards	Best Original Song	David Lang	Template:Nom
2015 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards	Best Film Music or Score	David Lang	Template:Nom
2015 Cannes Film Festival	Palme D'Or	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nom
18th Costume Designers Guild Awards	Excellence in Contemporary Film	Carlo Poggioli	Template:Nom
41st César Awards	Best Foreign Film	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nom
21st Critics' Choice Awards	Best Original Song	David Lang	Template:Nom
2015 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards	Best Film	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nominated
	Best Director	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nominated
	Best Actor	Michael Caine	Template:Won
28th European Film Awards	Best Film	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Won
	Best Director	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Won
	Best Screenwriter	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nom
	Best Actor	Michael Caine	Template:Won
	Best Actress	Rachel Weisz	Template:Nominated
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 2015	Best Cinematography	Luca Bigazzi	Template:Nominated
73rd Golden Globe Awards	Best Original Song	David Lang	Template:Nom
73rd Golden Globe Awards	Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture	Jane Fonda	Template:Nom
Hawaii International Film Festival	EuroCinema Hawai'i Award	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nom
Hollywood Film Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Jane Fonda	Template:Won
Houston Film Critics Society Awards 2015	Best Original Song	David Lang	Template:Nom
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival	Audience Award	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Won
London Film Critics Circle Awards 2015	Best British/Irish Actor	Michael Caine	Template:Nom
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild	Best Contemporary Makeup - Feature Motion Picture	Maurizio Silvi, Matteo Silvi	Template:Nom
Nastro d'Argento	Best Director	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Won
	Best Producer	Nicola Giuliano, Francesca Cima, Carlotta Calori	Template:Nom
	Best Script	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nom
	Best Cinematography	Luca Bigazzi	Template:Won
	Best Editing	Cristiano Travaglioli	Template:Won
	Best Production Design	Ludovica Ferrario	Template:Nom
	Best Costume Design	Carlo Poggioli	Template:Nom
	Best Casting Director	Anna Maria Sambucco	Template:Nom
Ostend Film Festival	Look Prize	Paolo Sorrentino	Template:Nom
Satellite Awards	Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture	Jane Fonda	Template:Nom

External links

Youth on the BFI website
Youth featured by the British Council–Film
Youth listed in the Lumiere database