MOVIE: Youth

Youth: a movie about human emotions set at a luxurious Swiss hotel & spa.  The primary story line involves the Michael Caine character, Fred Ballinger, a retired classical music composer and conductor.  I’ve been a Caine fan since 1966 when Alfie premiered.  Caine, who is 82, has retained all the charm, character and acting ability that were present 50 years ago.  As the film unfolds, we learn that Ballinger retired when his wife was no longer able to perform.  Part of Ballinger’s past is told through his interaction with his longtime friend and Hollywood filmmaker Mick Boyle, played by Harvey Keitel.  Boyle and Ballinger have been meeting at the hotel for many summers.  Many of Boyle’s films featured an actress named Brenda Morel.  This summer, Boyle has brought a team of young screenwriters to the hotel to assist him in completing his newest screenplay, whose main character is an aging diva, Morel in real life.  We also learn about Ballinger’s past through Lena (Rachel Weisz), his daughter and assistant, who also happens to be married to Boyle’s son.  Ballinger’s past is also revealed through his interactions with current movie star Jimmy Tree, played by Paul Dano.  Two other characters who deserve mention are the hotel’s masseuse, Luna Zimic Mijoviic, a very unusual looking woman, and Roly Serrano for his tennis ball scene.  Luca Bigazzi’s cinematography is spectacular.  For the male readers, even more spectacular are certain scenes involving Miss Universe, Madalina Ghenea, a truly beautiful woman.  This 124 minute film is written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino, who presents a certain Fellini culture attitude.   If you saw Sorrentino’s Oscar winning film The Great Beauty and liked it, you definitely should see Youth.  The opposite is also true, except for the reference to Miss Universe.   I think Youth is a better film than The Great Beauty because it dives into the emotions of the individual characters.  60 Minutes had a piece about Youth and Caine, including a lovely scene with Caine sitting in a pasture and conducting.  But this film offers so much more than what was conveyed in that brief 60 Minutes piece.  Jane Fonda makes a brief appearance as Morel towards the end of the movie.  I did not recognize her, and this comment is meant as a compliment.  Fonda deserved her Golden Globe best supporting actress nomination.  The signature composition discussed throughout this complex movie, Simple Song #3, was composed  by David Lang and is beautifully performed in full at the end of the film.  Lang deserves his Oscar nomination.  It is not easy to present the aging pathos of males.  This film does an excellent job with a light comedic touch.