Youth: A Cinematic Wunderbaum

Have you ever been in the mood where you’re just sitting there, sipping on your kaffe and reflecting on life’s little quirks and absurdities? That’s kinda what Paolo Sorrentino’s “Youth” does in film form. It’s like lying in the grass one Midsummer eve, staring at the sky, and realizing the clouds are in a different time zone.

Starring the always brilliant Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, “Youth” unfolds its story in a luxurious Swiss resort. Caine is a retired composer, while Keitel plays a director struggling to finish what he believes is his last remarkable film. Remember when I forgot my own name for a second after catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis? It’s exactly that sort of unexpected, lyrical experience. Sometimes the strange beauty of memories gets ya.

Now, let me say this: Rachel Weisz and Paul Dano, adding even more weight to the star-studded cast, might surprise you. It’s as if you unexpectedly meet an old friend on a quiet Stockholm street. Their performances lift and twist the narrative like a Swedish folk tune – deeply melancholic but profoundly comforting.

But I don’t know. Sometimes the film feels a little bogged down in its poetic ambition. A bit like when you try to bake a perfectly golden kladdkaka and ends up with more kladd than kake. Some moments feel more like philosophical musings than narrative movements. You might find your mind wandering, but maybe that’s also the whole idea.

I think, “Youth” is for those ready to reflect, giggle a bit, and see life through a different lens. It’s not about flashy explosions, but the quiet fireworks of growing old with humour and grace. So, grab your favorite fika treat, sit back, and say hej to a story about time, art, and the endless possibility of more dreams.

Check the trailer below