After 25 years of browsing IMDB and always resisting the urge to create an account, it never seemed necessary. Then I just did that to write a blurb about this film.I get it that this film didn't do much for a lot of people, reading through many of the 1 star reviews I get it that it it's probably a pretentious piece of crap. (paraphrasing the 20 or so 1 star reviews)However, for me it worked. The slow moving scenes, the absurdities, the music and the unhinged plot, it all comes together eventually. I've watched the final scene 3 times since watching the film last night for the first time and each time it's making me wanting to see it again.European cinema; pretentious and boring but great nudity when it matters!

The story is set at an expensive Swiss health resort and it focuses, in particular, on an aging director, Mick (Harvey Keitel), and an even older ex-composer, Fred (Michael Caine). Fred seems like a man waiting to die and even though the Queen of the United Kingdom wants him to perform for her, he makes lots of excuses. His friend Mick, however, seems very active...trying to make that one great film which will be his finale.The film has hardly any plot apart from two old men contemplating life and their existence. In many ways, if you like one of Ingmar Bergman's more depressing films, you essentially know what "Youth" is going to be like...somber, depressing, supposedly insightful and as much fun to watch as your grandmother taking a bath. Overall, a hard film to watch, let alone enjoy. Some obviously like it based on the other reviews, but I found that even though the film was made well and well acted, it was tedious and depressing. Even an incredibly beautiful and sensual nude scene wasn't enough to spark my interest in this story.

Best movie I've seen in last few years. Characters are unique and extremely individualistic. Maintains a good sexual tension throughout the film. Loved the Swiss setting very restful. The whole film is exquisite and tastefully directed..

The film "Youth" (La giovinezza) by the Italian director Paolo Sorrentino is a reflection of the deep crisis in Italian cinema. After the golden age of Italian cinema in the 1960s the crisis started and became inescapable.Director Sorrentino tells the story of two close friends vacationing in a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps. One is a composer played by Michael Caine another is a filmmaker played by Harvey Keitel. Michael Caine plays his role well as usual and is the only reason why the film is remotely watchable.Otherwise the film is dull, pretentious and lacks any new or interesting ideas. The cinematography was bland and unoriginal. The music was surprisingly awful considering this is a film about a famous and beloved composer.The product placement for Microsoft Kinect was shameless, annoying and resembled a parody. The film had a positive critical response, however it is not a masterpiece, just utterly forgettable.The film is just another imitation of Fellini in the same way as "The Great Beauty" (La grande bellezza) but "The Great Beauty" at least was not so flat out boring and monotonous.It is time for the directors to stop stealing from the great masters and to their find own unique style and to produce new ideas and the film jurors should not encourage plagiarism either."Youth" can only be recommended as a sleeping aid.See more reviews at: http://indie-cinema.com/